TEHRAN (Iran) – Mason Amos had a lot to celebrate.
His very first game as a member of the Philippines national team resulted in a win to start out their FIBA U18 Asian Championship 2022 campaign. To be more accurate, it resulted in a crushing win by 64 points over Syria, marking the biggest win at the youth level for the Philippines in the past decade and most since 2010.
Amos shined in his debut as well, leading the team with 26 points on 11-15 shooting in just under 17 minutes played.
When you get to do all of that on your 18th birthday as Amos did in this game, well that’s just icing on the cake.
“There is honestly no better feeling than representing your country,” Amos said ahead of the tournament. “It was all a dream to play for the Philippines and to know that I’ll be wearing that jersey, I’m going to give it my all.”
“It is something I don’t take for granted. This is because there’s millions of other guys my age that would love to be in the position I am in right now and so I’m forever grateful. This also motivates me to keep getting better every day.”
After the strong start here in Tehran for the U18 Asian Championship 2022, it’s clear that Amos has meant every single word he said.
Amos went quick to work in his debut, scoring his – and the Philippines’ – first points on a long jumper right on the very first attempt. At 2.01 M (6’7″), Amos has the size to play inside and usually starts from the post in offensive sets. However, he is confident in his shooting stroke which he put on display multiple times in his first game. Amos showed that he could knock down corner threes as well as catch and shoot on a pick and pop.
“I would describe my game as an inside-out presence that can really stretch the floor. I can shoot consistently and get to the rim if needed. I have adjusted to the modern way of playing and base my game that way.”
Die-hard Gilas fans might see his game and see some resemblance of another stretch forward known for his long range shooting, Ranidel De Ocampo. De Ocampo, or as fondly known by his fans as RDO, is a World Cup and 4-time Asia Cup veteran who can effectively score from beyond the arc and throw it down.
That isn’t a coincidence.
“I’ve spoken to the legend, Ranidel De Ocampo,” said Amos when asked about which Gilas seniors he’s reached out to so far.
“I looked up to him when I was younger and followed the way he fought in his position even though at an international level he was undersized. I have a similar playing style to him and so I follow his footsteps.”
“The advice he gave me was enjoy the experience and be a leader. This really motivated me to become more of a leader for this Gilas team and hopefully will allow for the team to perform for success.”
That is another thing that stands out about Amos, his maturity. Adding a year to his age on his birthday helps, but there’s more to it than just the number. Amos seems to quickly know what he wants to do when he gets the ball in his hands, making decisions like a player with much more experience that an 18-year-old.
In a way, he does have a bit of a head start.
Amos started playing at a very young age when his father put the ball in his hands. His father was also a basketball player and while his mother didn’t play hoops, she was an athlete herself as a volleyball player.
Athletics was somewhat a family tradition for the Amos household and it didn’t take long for young Mason to commit to basketball.
“I knew I fell in love with the game the moment I scored that first basket,” he said. “It then continued from there and my passion increased over time when I started playing junior basketball all the way up to seniors now.”
How and where Amos developed his game plays a factor in why his game stands out as well. While, he has Filipino (my father’s side being based in Pampanga while my mother’s side is based in San Juan) and American roots, he was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia.
For Amos, that’s how he’s been able to bring a new dimension to the table for Gilas and give himself and the team an advantage.
“For me, it’s a huge advantage because I gained so much development with my game and knowledge from Australian and New Zealand coaches. It really matured the way I play and made me a better player.”
The Philippines and Amos will need that advantage as they go deeper into the competition. They’ve done well to come out of the gates with a strong start, but the competition will get tougher and tougher. The first big test will be on August 23 when they will face Chinese Taipei, an opponent that Gilas have lost to in their two most recent encounters at the U18 level.
Through all of this, Amos’ eyes also be on the grand prize: clinching a ticket to the Semi-Finals – and berth at the U19 Basketball World Cup next year in Debrecen.
“It would be an amazing feeling to qualify for the World Cup next year. I know it will take some heart and hard work to get there. But I’m a strong believer in the group we have and the fight we are going to give.”