Thoughts on Smart Gilas (89) VS Smart All Stars (98)

Following the disappointing display of basketball ever conducted by a collection of local, professional players, fans started to worry about the chances of Smart Gilas Pilipinas against the visiting Smart All Stars headlined by Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Chris Paul and Kevin Durant.

Granted, the PBA selection, just like the rest of us, were probably seeing the NBAers for the first time and made the most of the opportunity by concentrating more on posing for cameras with their idols, asking for autographs and being all giddy fanboys rather than just playing competitive basketball. To say that they were starstruck would be an understatement, and not one player displayed any fire at all to compete at their highest level.

Again, if I were writing this article in a sports contest against, say, Mr. Jaemark Tordecilla of FireQuinito.com, I'd probably just be watching him rather than writing too. No biggie. Embarassing for PBA players such as James Yap who scored ZERO points, but forgiven nevertheless since little was expected of them.

But then, we are talking about Smart Gilas Pilipinas here- the country's national basketball team who carries the unenviable herculean task of re-establishing our name as one of the best in Asia. This is no time for them to be caught in the hype and hoopla of the Ultimate All Star Weekend, this was their chance to go against the best basketball players in the world in a (public) scrimmage.

So make the most of it they did.

Mac Barroca, Chris Tiu, Chris Lutz, Japeth Aguilar, Marcus Douthit VS Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and JaVale McGee.

You'd expect murder in the First Q.

Never happened.

The Smart All Stars were being pushed (literally) and breakaway, highlight reel worthy dunks were all but cancelled out. To give you an idea of just how seriously Smart Gilas was taking this game, they were fouling the NBAers instead of just giving them freebies from all over. FOULING. In an EXHIBITION game.

Nice.

In one play, Asi Taulava checked in and hounded the tattoos off of Kevin Durant, fouling him out to the sideline. This was not taken lightly by Durant who had some words for the burly Fil-Tonggan before heading to the free throw line (SG was in PENALTY, told you they were taking this game seriously). A free throw later, Kobe Bryant comes in and barks something at KD35 (something like "it's okay") and proceeds to pretty much drain buckets from all over.

Unlike in the PBA game, the Gilas point guards didn't bother showing off their handles (only Jimmy Alapag warrants more than 15 seconds with the ball on that team anyway) and relied more on crisp passing and ball movement. There were some sturdy screens here and there, but too much reliance on the three ball (which fortunately, was falling) and no hard drives to the basket (height will always be might in basketball).

Though the quarter scores (28-16, 55-37, 79-60, 98-89) may show otherwise, the game was pretty much competitive and the Gilas players all tried to fight back. Kobe Bryant met better opposition from Dondon Hontiveros in the paint as opposed to Arwind Santos, James Yap or Mark Caguioa, and our own Chris Lutz was getting on some of the NBAers nerves with his in-your-face, Raja Bell-like approach on defense.

If anything, we were finally able to catch a glimpse of Rajko Toroman's dream Smart Gilas line-up with PBA additions Alapag, Hontiveros (who went home with Kobe Bryant's worn-jersey and shoe for his driver), Taulava, Kelly Williams (who could've brought the house down had he made that two handed follow up slam) and Ranidel de Ocampo.

P.S.

LMAO at Derrick Rose racing to get close to our own Manny Pacquiao and shouting "WHO'S GOT A PEN?!"

LMAO too at Chris Paul, brushing off a TV5 cameraman for getting in the way of his brother CJ's camera angle-- again, with Pacquiao.