34th Jones Cup: Pilipinas' grades

Stay aggressive Gabe!

Today's 88-84 win over Japan marks yet another come-from-behind win for Team Pilipinas, pulling out all the stops to erase a 4th quarter 11-point deficit. Not only where the Japs shooting the ball with Korean-like precision, but their ball movement was the best this writer has seen from that country in years.

Fortunately for us, Marcus "Big Daddy" Douthit came through with a stellar 26 points, 13 rebounds performance to carry us throughout the game in time for the locals to regroup defensively and wax hot in the 4th. Our top gunners, Gary David and Jeffrei Chan, provided the needed long bombs with Gabe Norwood-- who is having a "Cyrus Baguio-like" series, just playing the best basketball we've seen from him so far.

We have to commend Coach Chot Reyes for his awesome shuffling and also that impressive switching on defense which just about everyone on the floor for Pilipinas appears to have embraced whole-heartedly. Not only were they being active, but screens and picks by the Japs were being taken out of the equation because there was always a guy rotating inside or outside to meet them.

So without further ado, let's move on to the grades so far:


L.A. Tenorio (PG): B
He's been steady as the team's starting point guard, but it's quite obvious that Tenorio's height is keeping him from making a huge impact for Pilipinas. He doesn't have the same left-to-right footspeed as a Johnny Abarrientos or Jimmy Alapag (which is why Marc Pingris is always able to keep him under wraps) and his high-arcing threes are just about at an eye-level as his opponents. Today's game versus Japan was okay, but it's hard to expect much from Tenorio going forward.

Sol Mercado (PG) : A-
In limited minutes, given a specific role to play on the floor and not much pressure to try and play point guard-- there's no one like Mercado. Yes, his kamikaze drives are 50-50, but he draws so much attention to himself that he either scores, gets fouled or opens things up for Pilipinas. As long as Mercado is on attack mode, he's this team's best creator and fail-safe when our shooters are going through dry spells. Oh, and the man is playing good defense for once.

Gabe Norwood (PG/SF): A
Should we land in the Top Three (don't want to say emerge as champs-- don't want to jinx it now), then Norwood would prove what this writer has said all along. That he needs to play under a system like Chot Reyes' where he's given freedom to roam. He's not a prototype point guard though he's an exceptional ball-handler. With all the shooters and a dominant center down low, life on offense is easier for Norwood. What he has taken to heart however is playing defense. We've always questioned Norwood's offense-- but never the defense. He's tall, quick, wiry and agile. He's skinny, but he's damn pesky. Tonight was another stellar and solid effort coming from the George Mason U product. Hopefully, he continues to bring his A game throughout the Jones Cup and also come FIBA time (and, as a Rain or Shine fan, pray that he brings it back to the PBA).

Larry Fonacier (PG/SF): B+
What has Fonacier not done for the team? He can play the point guard position, he plays solid defense (natatawagan lang ng maraming fouls dahil sa kagulangan) and knocks down his shots. He's the perfect "filler" when either Chan or David goes to the bench since he has the range to spread the floor although Coach Chot has been experimenting with a Fonacier-Chan-David troika a lot lately.

Jeffrei Chan (SG/SF): B+
Solid as a newly-minted Finals MVP should and could be.

Matt Roser (SF): Inc.
We already have Norwood, why bring in Roser? Still feel that his spot should've and could've gone to another perimeter shooter + defender. Jarred Dillinger perhaps? Ay, ayaw nga pala ng tao ng SMART Gilas Tropang Texters.

Gary David (SG): B
David is killing us defensively with blown rotations and covers. David is keeping us alive with clutch baskets. You just have to take the bad with the good sometimes.

Garvo Lanete (SG/SF): A
For a rookie to come in and drop a cool 21 points on a bunch of three pointers without hearing it from his veteran teammates-- that's almost unheard of. Yet he comes in, plays sturdy perimeter defense and knocks down shots.

Mac Baracael (SF/PF): Inc.
Lanete took his lunch money.

Rico Villanueva (PF/C): B+
Finally, an enforcer akin to the early days. Too bad he's 6"4. Wag kang matakot boss, resbak mo kami!

Ranidel de Ocampo (PF/C): B-
Has been sitting down a lot the past two games because of his slow-footed defense. We'll need RDO to play up to par come FIBA time, this "small ball" approach of Coach Chot is working wonders right now but don't expect it to work against Olympic competition (China and Iran).

Sonny Thoss (PF/C): C
Dear Sonny, throw those elbows out damn it.

Marcus Douthit (C): A
He's been coasting prior to tonight's win over Japan. Still effective, but not as demanding of the ball as before. We don't really need Douthit's best right now (since he's our only legitimate center)-- not even against Iran or U.S.A. Just keep him in game shape and pray he doesn't get hurt-- we need him for the FIBA, not the Jones Cup.

Pilipinas offense: B
Still too many one-on-one moves. The dribble-drives are okay, but the locals need to finish stronger at the rim (Hi Gabe). Spacing has been excellent except when Mercado drives inside and Douthit and whichever power forward is down low fail to move out of the way (can't blame him, Mercado's deceptively quick). Loving the fact that we have Chan, Fonacier, David and Lanete on board to drill in threes. Take that you effin' Kuryans (as Coach Ronnie Magsanoc kept saying yesterday).

Pilipinas defense: A-
Switching, rotating, hands-up, challenge shots-- just awesome, Miami Heat NBA Finals 2012-like defense for Pilipinas. Can't be too happy though because our best defense comes when we go small with Gabe Norwood at the 4. Hopefully, we'll have Kelly Williams back for the FIBA games so Norwood can man the 3 spot. That would be an awesome sight. Rebounding needs to improve as well.

How would you grade our team so far?

P.S.

Pakisabihan ang mga Hapon na sa basketball, normal na kili-kili ang inaahit, hindi kilay.