MANILA (FIBA U16 Asian Championship) - The Philippines are expected to make a big splash at the FIBA U16 Asian Championship, but head coach Michael Oliver wants his wards to take it one game at a time.

"We will just take the competition one game at a time," he said. "That is how it is. If we say big things then people will expect. We are in a tough bracket with Australia, so we will just do our best."

People back home in Manila have already heaped big expectations on coach Oliver and his Batang Gilas squad, especially since this is the tallest U16 team the country has ever produced. For coach Oliver, the added size is a major boost, but he also knows they cannot rest on their laurels and count solely on that.

"We might be able to run a bit more because we have a taller team that should get the rebounds," he explained. "Thankfully, we have taller players who can play a variety of styles whether half court or uptempo. We want to be able to rebound and run."

The veteran coach knows his stuff, especially after he helmed the 2015 Philippines U16 team that made history and dealt China their first ever loss at this level. The Filipinos, though, did not make it past the Quarter-Finals despite that feat, and they know it will be equally challenging to make it not only to the Quarter-Finals but to finish among the top four teams who will earn slots to the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup in Argentina later this year.

"It is important that we know we can beat the top teams, but we have to build on that. It would be bad if we say we beat China then next time around we don’t beat anyone. We have to continue in our progression as a team."

Coach Oliver is surveying the field in Foshan, China with guarded optimist. He knows he has one of the tallest and deepest youth teams the Philippines have ever seen, but this is tempered by the squad's relative lack in preparation. Because of the robust inter-school basketball season back home, coach Oliver has been able to gather the team for training only sporadically.

"We wanted earlier preparation," he lamented. "Our school leagues have different schedules, and it is very difficult to decide on a line up up to the last minute. Our problems are also the same as the senior national team. Composition-wise, thankfully, we are fielding a taller, faster and more athletic team."

Expected to lead the way for Batang Gilas in Foshan are the duo of Kai Sotto and Forthsky Padrigao. Sotto has been making the rounds of the headlines in Manila as the next big thing (literally) in Asian basketball. When he starred for them in the SEABA U16 Championship last year, he stood at 6ft 11in (2.10m), but now there are reports he has grown to be as tall as 7ft 2in (2.18m) already. Padrigao, meanwhile, is considered the country's top U16 floor general, and his combination with Sotto should make for a fun highlight reel.

"Of course, everyone is important on the team, but we expect Kai Sotto to anchor our defense and provide scoring down low and Forthsky Padrigao to run our offense and help get everyone in the flow of our system," coach Oliver shared.

Coach Oliver is wary of many teams in the competition, especially new entrants Australia and New Zealand, both of which are favorites to finish among the top four. Despite the challenges, though, coach Oliver wants his team to keep their focus. Their main objective is to continue their maturity as a team, and if this results in victories, then all the better.

We will just take the competition one game at a time. That is how it is. If we say big things then people will expect. We are in a tough bracket with Australia, so we will just do our best.Michael OliverMichael Oliver

"Australia and New Zealand will set the tone for the tournament and when facing them, no team can afford to be complacent," he said. "Still, we are focusing on the process. It is important because we are trying to build teams through age groups and grow these young players together. Then, if possible, they can move up to the senior national team."

FIBA