Bahrain take on the Philippines today at 8am Bahrain time on the opening day of the Asian Under-16 Basketball Championship in Jakarta.

Sixteen team teams are competing in the event which is a qualifier for the World Under-17 Championship to be held next year in Spain.

The teams are divided into four groups, Group ‘A’ consists of Japan, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Malaysia while Chinese Taipei, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Lebanon are in Group ‘B’.

Group ‘C’ consists of the Philippines, Bahrain, North Korea and Thailand while China, India, South Korea and Iraq are in Group ‘D’.

The top three in each group advance to the second round. The 12 second round teams will be divided into two groups and each team will play the three new teams in their group. 

The top four in each group will advance to the quarter-finals.

The Bahrain national team is coached by American Aaron Mitchell and he is assisted by Hamad Ismael.

The team held a training session yesterday at the championship’s venue which is located two hours away from the teams accommodation. 

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Coach Mitchell is likely to start today’s match with his top five players – Baqer Al Aradi, Fadhel Abdulelah, Hussain Zuhair, Kareem Abo Qora and Mohammed Al Majed.

Coach Mitchell expressed his happiness with the team’s preparations so far.

Today’s matches:  Group ‘A’ – Japan vs Kuwait – 6am Bahrain time. Group ‘C’: Philippines vs Bahrain – 8am. Group ‘A’: Malaysia vs Hong Kong – 10am. Group ‘D’: China vs India – 10am. Group ‘B’: Chinese Taipei vs Bangladesh – 10am.Group ‘D’: Iraq vs Korea – 2pm. Group ‘B’: Lebanon vs Indonesia – 2pm.