SMART Gilas Pilipinas dominates early in 33rd William Jones Cup

First, we took down two-time defending champions Iran. Then, we thoroughly outplayed Chinese Taipei with systematic and crisp ball movement, timely baskets and hard drives to the hoop.

If this is what the future of Philippine basketball looks like, then please MVP & co., feel free to extend the program for a couple more years (and not just the reported two).

Granted, we probably caught Iran napping (they were also missing the services of two starters and didn’t play Hamed Haddadi until the last few minutes of the first quarter) but there’s no denying that this is the best coached and most dedicated National team I’ve ever seen.

What they lack in individual talent, they make up for with great teamwork and focus.

Yes, I’ve written one too many entries about how I wish player X was included over player Y, but the two games I’ve seen so far have proven what we’ve known all along. A Philippine team, that has been practicing for as long as SMART Gilas without the distractions of PBA duties, NBA draft dreams and politics will always be at par with Asia’s best regardless of the lack of ceiling.

And just because there’s a frustrated sports academe in all of us would-be basket-bloggers, here’s my version of their early report cards:

Marcus Douthit – A+
Douthit, the country’s naturalized center, has proven himself worthy of all the accolades and positives thrown his way the last few months. Not only did he handle his own on defense versus two of Asia’s great centers in Iran’s Hamed Haddadi and Chinese Taipei’s Wen-ting Tseng, but the man flat out beasted them on the boards as well as by sticking short jumper after short jumper in their faces.

J.V. Casio – B+
Casio is and will always be clutch. The grade we’re giving him here masks his true value for the Nationals but its also a by-product of him being guarded by taller and heftier guards. Casio’s one true weakness (his being slow in typical Filipino point guard standards) is the prime culprit as to why he can’t get his shots off as much as we’re used to. He doesn’t have that Allen Iverson crossover or that L.A. Tenorio stepback three to go to yet, but he has been superb in protecting the basketball and playing PG (which is not his natural position).

Andy Barroca – A
So he disappeared against the tall and quick Taiwanese guards, but that’s not enough to ignore how much he hurt the Iranian defense with his quick slashes to the hoop complimented by a three ball here and there. If our team wants to move forward, then we need Barroca to play his A game at all times and space the floor for him with shooters.

Chris Tiu – B
I love the kid. I really do. I respect him as a person, and think that he is a great role model for everyone. His game however, leaves little to be desired. He tried to get some rebounds (Tiu, to his credit, is a high rebounding guard and is not afraid of contact) but failed to match up with bigger guys. He played solid and willing defense. He just couldn’t buy a bucket. MVP’s golden boy jokes aside, Tiu is a system player that helps keep the ball moving at all times for the Nationals.

Japeth Aguilar – A+
Who the heckare you and what have you done with Aguilar? It’s almost like someone strapped the once flimsy high flyer to a chair and forced him to watch hundreds of Kevin Garnett “Defense 101” tapes. I like it. Plus, he’s not asking for the ball and is bent on rebounding and blocking shots. I like what I see.

Mac Baracael – B
Or “Bah-rah-quiao” as the ESPN announcer would say. The guy has turned out to be Pilipinas’ head coach Rajko Toroman’s go to guy at the four spot in the fourth quarter. Despite being a few inches shorter than starter Aguilar, the old adage proves true that coaches “start guys that they like, but end with guys they trust.” Baracael pretty much plugs in all the holes for the Gilas team be it on offense or defense. Though I would still prefer that he start at SF alongside one of the Fil-Am wings (Lassiter or Lutz) at SG, the fact that Toroman ends games with the FEU Tamaraw more than justifies his inclusion in the National team.

Marcio Lassiter/ Chris Lutz – B
Even the ESPN guy (who covers games by himself, the poor fellow) has observed that both players, well, play the same way. Or at the very least, fit into a certain role in Toroman’s scheme of things. They cut, set perimeter screens and pretty much live at the corners and spreading the floor for Barroca, Casio and Douthit.

Dondon Hontiveros – B
I’m disappointed with the way the Cebuano hotshot is playing. Actually, he’s been playing the same way even before he was traded from San Miguel to Air21. his stock has indeed dropped, and while he can still play solid defense in spurts, he no longer has that same fire on offense.

Asi Taulava – B+
The old dog is still at it at 38. And while Taulava was never the low post threat we’ve dreamt of (and now have thanks to Marcus Douthit), he is a great back-up center and is still the widest body in all of Philippine basketball today. Slowly but surely, Taulava’s turned himself from basketball teddy bear to an enforcer in the low post.

Dylan Ababou - C
Wow, I didn’t know that he was still on the team! He was able to get some garbage time minutes last night versus Chinese Taipei—and looked every inch like the lost cub that he is. Not knowing his place on the floor, late on rotations and so on. Hopefully, he starts to show more fire in practice and cracks Toroman’s rotation. That, or he should just jump into the PBA as a draft sleeper.

To be quite frank, the way we're playing, I'd be utterly disappointed as with the rest of Pinoy sports fans if we don't finish with a medal.