REGENSBURG (David Hein's Eye on the Future) - Basketball fans looking forward to the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2017 should brace themselves for a very uncommon sight - namely a Philippines team that could tower over their opponents.

Filipinos are well known for their boundless enthusiasm for basketball. The country's general lack of height, however, has kept their puso for hoops from being rewarded with major international success. But that just might change thanks to a generation of young Philippine players ready to fully capture the hearts of their basketball junkie compatriots.

Kai Sotto towered over the competition at the SEABA U16 Championship 2017 in leading Philippines to the title and a berth at the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2017. The 6ft 11in (2.10m) Sotto averaged 12.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game - despite playing less than 19 minutes a game. He collected 15 points, 12 rebounds and 4 blocks in what was essentially the title game in the last game of the round-robin group format tournament - an 83-62 win over Malaysia, who also joined Philippines in reaching the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2017 field.

But Sotto, who only turned 15 years old on May 11, wasn't the only tall player on the U16 Batang Gilas roster. Geo Chiu is listed at 6ft 8in (2.02m), Raven Cortez stands 6ft 7in (2.01m) and won't turn 15 years until late October, while Bismarck Lina and Josh Lazaro are both 6ft 5in (1.95m).

And that isn't even all the bigs that Philippines coach Mike Oliver will have for this 2001-02 born generation. The 6ft 6in (1.98m) Lloyd Oliva was a reserve who almost made the team while the 2002-born Ethan Kirkness was injured but could have created a true twin towers duo with Sotto at 6ft 10in (2.07m). There are also Gian Gasper and Ladis Lepalam at 6ft 8in (2.02m) and the 6ft 7in (2.01m) duo Carl Tamayo and Zachary Salazar.

This is just the latest group of players who are sprouting like beanstalks out of the Philippines' fertile basketball ground. Some possible bigs for next summer's FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2018 include 6ft 9in (2.05m) AJ Edu; the 6ft 9in (2.05m) Kamaka Hepa, who was born in the United States and would likely be considered a naturalized player; as well as 6ft 8in (2.02m) Erlan Umpad.

These groups of players are at different skill levels at the moment and still have development through which they must go. But the size is there.

So, how much of a change is this as compared to past Philippines teams?

Will Gozum (6ft 4in/1.93m) was the tallest player on the Philippines roster at the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2015 - and the only one taller than 6ft 0in (1.83m). Philippines' tallest player at the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2013 and FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2014 was just 6ft 3in (1.90m).

It hasn't really gotten much taller at the U18 level for Philippines. Kemark Carino was 6ft 8in (2.02m) at the FIBA U18 Asia Championship 2016 but there was only one other player taller than 6ft 4in (1.93m) on the squad. Kobe Paras stood 6ft 6in (1.98m) at U18 Asia in 2014 and Leonard Santillan was 6ft 5in (1.95m). But there wasn’t any other height.

Heck, even the Philippines senior level has its issues with height.

Six players from the recent SEABA Championship 2017 were 6ft 2in (1.87m) or shorter while four players were 6ft 3in (1.91m) or less at the FIBA Asia Cup 2015 and six Filipinos stood 6ft 2in (1.87m) or less at FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014.

Could this increased height - if it continues and is not just an one-off generation or two - lead Philippines long-term to moving away from their traditional values of speed and shooting - which have dominated their style in international play for many years.

Not so quick, says Oliver looking ahead to the FIBA U16 Asia Championship 2017: "We need to improve our speed and for our big man to be able to shoot from the outside because in FIBA Asia our height is just average compared to powerhouse China and other participating countries."

Philippines struggled for some time in the game against Malaysia until finally pulling away in the second half. It was actually an interesting twist of tales, as Oliver pointed out.

"Playing against Malaysia was a weird feeling. Usually, we're up against taller opponents and now it's the other way around," Oliver said. "It's like we're China, and Malaysia is the Philippines, relying on their speed to outrun us and using their outside shooting so that we can't utilize our big men manning the shaded area."

Sotto did show in the Malaysia game that he could take over in spurts with three straight layups to start the second half. But Philippines are still a ways from changing their tried and true style of running and shooting. And the team at this year's FIBA U16 Asia Championship will definitely not be your father's Batang Gilas.

David Hein

FIBA

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