36 Patiphan Klahan (THA)
16/03/2017
Asia
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Klahan and crew will give their best to unseat the Philippines

BANGKOK (SEABA Championship 2017) - Patiphan Klahan is one of the young pillars of the Thailand national men's basketball team, and he is looking forward to once again playing for his country in this year's SEABA Championship 2017 and SEA Games 2017.

Klahan most recently saw action for Thailand in the FIBA Asia Challenge 2016, leading his squad in scoring and rebounding with 10.2 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. At only 23 years old, he represents a bright future for the Southeast Asian nation, which has performed well of later in regional tournaments. The Thais pushed the Philippines to the brink, 66-65, in their elimination round encounter at the SEABA Cup 2016 before falling short, again opposite the Filipinos, in the Final, 97-80.

Thailand may have finished winless in the FIBA Asia Challenge last year, but they turned a lot of heads with a noticeable uptick in their competitiveness. They were neck-and-neck against Japan for one whole half, and they very nearly upset Gulf powerhouse Qatar, 64-62, in their second round match. Considering both Japan and Qatar were reinforced by naturalized players, these results show that the Thais should no longer be taken lightly. Their performances in 2016 should serve to boost their confidence this year, even if, by all intents and purposes, the Filipinos remain heavy favorites to retain the SEABA Championship crown.

For the Thais to pull the rug from under Gilas Pilipinas, however, they know that they'll need to put in an extraordinary amount of effort, and that's something Klahan himself acknowledged in a recent interview with FIBA.com.


How are Thailand preparing for the coming SEABA Championship in Manila?
We are preparing by having team practices in the mornings, but there is no training in the evening because some players are participating in the TBSL.

Which players do you think will be able to contribute heavily for Thailand this year?
I cannot single out anyone because each player is important. I think everyone has his own unique skill, and everyone is vital to the team.

Thailand have given the Philippines some tough fights recently. Do you see your team faring well again in the SEABA Championship?
This is tough because the Philippines have a group of very experienced and talented players; however, we will certainly give our best effort to win against them.

You have been impressive in playing for Thailand the past couple of tournaments. What kind of role do you expect to be given this year for the team?
In my opinion, I want to be an outstanding player both at the perimeter and in the paint. I really prefer playing as small forward or power forward.

What should Thailand do to continue their rise in SEABA basketball and, one day, truly catch up with the Philippines?
Personally, I believe that if Thailand want to be able to match with the Philippines, we must have greater support for basketball in our country. We must build a strong foundation for basketball in Thailand by supporting our professional and youth leagues. This will help secure the future of Thai basketball.


FIBA