SMART Gilas 1: Revisited

What if?

Now that the season is over and we know where each of the concerned pieces stand, this writer can not help but picture what might have been had all the original, dreamt players taken part of the highly successful SMART Gilas program. Though there were about five or six players who chose to skip the national program and move on to the pros, let's single out three who could've improved our chances: Rabah Al Hussaini, Noy Baclao and Paul Lee.

Al Hussaini, at a beefy 6"5, would've been a joy to watch offensively for Gilas. A traditional post big who can knock down mid range jumpers, the former King Eagle would've commanded respect and helped open up the floor for naturalized center Marcus Douthit. Anyone who's ever played the game would tell you that having a big who can anchor the offense down low is always a plus, because it makes things easier for everyone. Guys can roam freely and choose their spots on the floor and makes the defenders extend outside if used correctly.


Of course, having Al Hussaini on board also means that Coach Rajko Toroman will also have to deal with the on court tantrums, lackluster effort and heavy pouting most of the time. These, aside from Al Hussaini's mediocre commitment to defense, are what has kept the promising big man frommaking an impact even in the pros. Still, he'd be even more serviceable than the high-leaping yet low basketball IQ Japeth Aguilar. Aguilar, who's never met a pump fake he hasn't bitten on, was reduced to a bit player come FIBA time and only made a dent against smaller/slower teams.

Another amateurs star who shunned the Gilas program is now overweight and seemingly lost cause Noy Baclao. Now, we only say that because he hasn't looked like the collegiate defensive ace that he once was when he opted for the Beau Belga diet which has obviously affected his speed.

But what if Baclao committed himself to the program?

Then Mac Baracael would've slid down to small forward with Marcio Lassiter versus smaller teams. Baclao instantly solves a bunch of defensive assignments for Gilas, quick enough to chase wings and smart enough to stay on bruisers. The weight issue would also be moot since he'll be running the whole time under Coach Toroman. Reports have it that Baclao went on an extra rice spree if only to protect himself from the physicality of the PBA.

How important a role could Baclao have played for Gilas? 

Think of it this way, those hefty star perimeter players that ran us to the ground in FIBA- bet money Coach Toroman sends Baclao alongside Lassiter and Lutz to keep them all in check. 

So yes, Al Hussaini and Baclao would've helped the Gilas cause and made some sort of impact-more than an Aguilar or Jason Ballesteros would ever dream of.

Which leaves us with this writer's favorite player- Paul Lee.

Gilas and Lee were right in not going gaga over each other.

Lee was battling an assortment of unreported yet nagging injuries. He's been wearing that elbow sleeve since his UAAP, PBL and PBADL days so it came as no surprise that he broke down in just his rookie year.

Game-wise, Lee is indeed wise beyond his years. He has a knack for finding creases in the defense and knows how to protect the ball and finish at the rim. What Lee doesn't possess however is a solid outside shot or even a reliable jumper. For the international game, that is where one on one players are weakest. We saw it before with PBA MVPs Jayjay Helterbrand, Mark Caguioa and James Yap, the same would have happened with Lee.

Not that Lee wouldn't have made an impact for the team, he probably would, but he's been terribly slow-footed defensively post-UAAP and has also become more of a streaky scorer rather than a shooter which is what JVee Casio and Chris Tiu are. That's pretty much why Mark Barroca exploded when the Gilas boys played in the PBA for a bit but failed to deliver come the international tourneys.

Still, would've been a joy watching all three suiting up for flag and country. Who knows, maybe one day they all will.