Grading the Philippine National Team

JVee Casio - B+
Obviously coach Toroman's PG of choice,  Casio was able to come through in some games but looked out of his comfort zone in big time match-ups. Yes, he posted good numbers from time to time, but his lack of ability to adjust on the fly as a point guard caused dry spells for the PHL team none more so than in games versus China, Jordan and Korea.

Mark Barroca - B
He started two or three games, but never really played big minutes. In the games that he did however, Barroca was able to deliver. The only problem was, he wasn't given the freedom to slash into the paint like before (either by the defenses or by his own coach's choosing) and couldn't hit from the outside (the only weakness in his game). Still, pound for pound, I'd take Barroca over Casio from a floor general's standpoint. Too bad Toroman didn't.

Jimmy Alapag - A+
When Alapag won Most Valuable Player in the PBA, people called it a media buyout. That Alapag's best years were behind him, and they just gave it to him because he was the most recognizable/ likable guy on the Talk 'n' Text roster. Well, the game versus Korea just proved all of his haters wrong and if this is his last tour of duty (given his age), then he definitely out performed his younger counterparts while still coming off the bench.

Chris Tiu - B
I'll give him an A for effort and heart, a C for in-game contribution. Yes, he averaged 8 points a game in the first round, but it was quite painful to watch Tiu get outmatched every single time on the floor. To his credit, he didn't turn the ball over as much and fought hard whenever called upon, but his minutes could've easily gone to more deserving/ better players.

Chris Lutz - A
The minute he came back to the roster, Toroman stuck him at the SG position and was asked to be the team's stopper. He didn't score much and was even on foul trouble on plenty of occasions, but the PBA 2011 Draft's 3rd overall pick did a yeoman's job playing defense versus some of Asia's best.

Marcio Lassiter - B+
One minute he's battling and hustling, the other he's scoring from all over. Who knows what would've happened in the first round loss versus China had Lassiter and Lutz played? Sadly, the world isn't made on "what ifs" and we all have to move on from here. I see a future PBA star in Lassiter, and even discord between him and Casio once they share floortime at Powerade.

Mac Baracael - B-
Solid when called upon but clearly lost mental focus in the game versus Korea. The man was so happy to have played after back to back DNPs (thanks in part to Tiu and Lutz' foul woes) that he celebrated after converting on his patented baby teardrop and pointed to the bench! In a world without Tiu, Lutz and Lassiter would've alternated at the SG position and Baracael at SF. Against a team like Jordan, that could've made a world of difference in my book because we wouldn't have given up too much height to their guards and wings. I'm only giving him a low grade because he sat for so long.

Kelly Williams - B+
Tonight's Trending Topic is getting mad hate because of his two missed free throws that could've given us a one point lead. I say, the man has never been a great shooter, but what he lacks in skill he makes up for with fight. And boy did he fight. Jumping over bigger power forwards for putback slams and rebounds, Williams did more than what was expected of him as Marcus Douthit's garbage man sidekick.

Ranidel de Ocampo - A
Now this is the RDO that we all want to see. Shooting threes, banging in the paint for baby hooks and rebounding with elbows out-- RDO is arguably the best big man on the PHL roster not named Douthit. Again, I wouldn't have minded a Williams-RDO-Douthit frontline in the closing minutes of games but there are things that you'd just have to leave to your coaching staff I guess.

Japeth Aguilar - D
We saw some Kevin Garnett-ish like defense in the Jones Cup. What the hell happened to that Japeth? Don't let the double double in the Bahrain game fool you, Aguilar is still the same, gullible pogo stick of the last three years. He has put on weight, but has not improved. The athleticism is undeniable, but the skills continue to be questionable. He can't shoot, can't defend man-to-man and has no low post moves to speak of. He is pretty much what's wrong with PBA and Filipino players (all flash, no substance) today.

Marcus Douthit - A+
He's Euro-import ready. Thank you Douthit. If you leave for greener pastures, we'd understand, you carried this team on your back the entire tournament. We're sorry our guys couldn't help you out as much as we'd like them to.

Asi Taulava - B+
While he was used sparingly, Taulava made sure to run both ends of the floor at all times and box out. Taulava never had post-up skills to speak of (Dennis Espino, Eric Menk and Danny Ildefonso are better   in the shaded lane than the 6"9 Fil-Tonggan) so him being relegated to an off-the-bench enforcer definitely a blessing. He's almost 40 now and has been representing our country in international meets for so long. If he begs off the team in 2013, then it's only fitting that we laud him for all he has done for Philippine basketball.

Rajko Toroman et. al. - A+
Superb coaching that only proved his selection as a work of genius by the SBP family then headed by Noli Eala. I hope he stays for the next incarnation of the SMART Gilas program, but if he moves on to another country and rebuilds that into a contender, I just hope that it's not in Asia.

How would you grade our national team?