Gilas Pilipinas: A matter of self-confidence

Photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com

Which Gabe Norwood will show up at the FIBA Asia tournament this August?

The one who constantly second guesses and or over analyzes every move on the hardcourt to the point of self-destruction, or the skinny St Vincent St Mary LeBron James clone we saw but glimpses of in last year's Jones Cup title run?

It's time to man up, Norwood is a skilled ball handler with an iffy jumpshot but arms the length of a pteredactyl. There are a lot of flaws in his game, but when he doesn't over think it, he is arguably just as effective as say, Calvin Abueva in Alaska's title run last Commissioner's Cup- minus the theatricality of course.

Gilas Pilipinas: Take the lead

Photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com

Following in the footsteps of all the great Filipino point guards before him, Lewis Alfred Tenorio will spearhead Gilas Pilipinas’ medal-finish dreams in the coming FIBA Asia tournament this August.

Tenorio has earned the mantle from Gilas teammate Jimmy Alapag the last two years. He is the top Filipino playmaker today given his ability to play different styles. He can play uptempo like Alapag and Alex Cabagnot, he can slow it down in the halfcourt a la Wynne Arboleda and Mike Cortez or he can even call his own number and score at will like Paul Lee and Jayjay Helterbrand.

Gilas Pilipinas: Hired gun

Photo courtesy of interaksyon.com

There's an unwritten doctrine among basketball players; of how athleticism and aerial forays are fads more than anything while shooting is one of the sports' truest art forms.

How can it not be? While flashy reverse lay-ups and rim-rattling dunks are a sight to behold, it registers just about the same amount of points as a regular jumpshot. There's a reason why the three point shot is well, worth three points. Shooting is an art form, and three points will always be better than two. Having a designated shooter is a plus for any basketball team and not having one is a curse (hello last NBA season's Philadelphia 76ers). It is the quickest way to either get back into a game or blow it wide open.

Gilas Pilipinas: The Best Damn Pinoy Big Man Today

Photo courtesy of pba-online.net

Junemar Fajardo will have his day. Sonny Thoss is getting it. Asi Taulava is a reminder of what could've been had he chosen to polish his post game and demanded for the ball like he should've. Danny Ildefonso is happy mentoring the young ones. Beau Belga is a creation of everything good about the old school enforcers and today's hybrid forward/centers.

But there is only one who can lay claim to the title of being "The Best Pinoy Big Man Today." That man is no other than 6"5 Talk 'n' Text Tropang Texters and Gilas Pilipinas starting forward Ranidel de Ocampo.

Gilas Pilipinas: Like no other before him

Photo courtesy of pba-online.net

Here's a question: What to make of Gilas Pilipinas' Jayson Castro?

He has proven to be quicker on the basketball court than point guards L.A. Tenorio and Jimmy Alapag, he's just as big and strong (if not bigger in mass and stronger overall) than the shooters we chose to brought in with Gary David, Jeffrei Chan and Larry Fonacier and has shown a knack for blitzing his way to the hoop with relative ease despite the odds.

We've seen transcendent talent like this before, the closest probably being Rain or Shine's Paul Lee and Barangay Ginebra's Mark Caguioa in their rookie years. When it's clear as day that you just have a guy who simply out-everythings everyone else on the court when he both mind and body are right. Castro is just as fast as the PBA's top point guards, as able as your big shot scorer and, as proven by him ripping the ball off future NBA Hall of Famer Chris Paul (one steal is a fluke, but twice? Nah, that takes real skills and we doubt Paul would've let his guard down so easily the 2nd time), is a solid one-on-one defender when called upon.

Gilas Pilipinas: The Natural

Photo courtesy of pba-online.net

His name is Marcus Douthit, and at 6"10 he is arguably the biggest yet most underscored storyline in the current renaissance enjoyed by Philippine basketball when it comes to international meets.

Time and again many have gone into detail about how incompetent our big men were down the block as compared to our Asian brethren. That despite being dominant at the local front, they're easily reduced to second-guessing fools who feel that all they have to do is concentrate on one end of the floor and leave the rest to the smaller guys.

Gilas Pilipinas: Instant offense

Photo courtesy of Interkasyon.com

Make no mistake about it, come the FIBA Asia tournament this August, Gilas Pilipinas' Gary David will be ready to drop buckets or die trying.

There is no way to go about it really, David is a scorer by trade. He puts the "shooting" in "shooting guard." He is cut from the same cloth as the likes of Vergel Meneses, Nelson Asaytono, Mark Caguioa and lately of upstarts Jericho Cruz, Kevin Alas and Terrence Romeo.

Gilas Pilipinas: True Pinoy Grit

Photo courtesy of damarre.wordpress.com

For all the stories, myths and urban legends thrown around about one Johnny Abarrientos and his exploits in the late 90s, we argue that Jimmy Alapag has earned to be mentioned in the same breath, if not higher.

The body of work, the championships and arguably our biggest Abarrientos VS Alapag tie-breaker: longevity and consistency.

But let's get to the "who's better" debate some other time. We are here to talk about Alapag, no longer in his prime and even a lock to NOT start for Gilas Pilipinas come the FIBA Asia tournament next month. His inclusion was born more out of "experience" and "familiarity" with head coach Chot Reyes' system more than actually being one of the best at his position today (he's still up there, but younger guys have slowly closed the gap-- Gilas teammate L.A. Tenorio, JVee Casio, Alex Cabagnot, Mike Cortez and Paul Lee).

And nobody does it better... Eala reassigned

Photo courtesy of sports.nfo.ph

In an obvious public relations damage control effort, San Miguel Corporation opted to "reassign" their trusted Basketball Operations Consultant Noli Eala following the intense social media backlash brought about by vexed Barangay Ginebra San Miguel fans in the aftermath of their head coach's, Alfrancis Chua's, resignation.

The move to reassign the one-time PBA Commissioner comes not only at the heels of Chua's resignation but also after Eala's hit-and-miss performance since he came on board early in 2011. The then Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas head was brought into Team SMC after a "falling out" with the SMART Gilas Pilipinas men's national basketball program (here's a quick link to our idol FireQuinito's old entry) bankrolled by Team Manny V. Pangilinan (MVP) and was bent on helping all three of Team SMC's Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams to acquire premium talent albeit at the cost of overall team chemistry.

Gilas Pilipinas: The Specialist

Photo courtesy of interaksyon.com

Name one basketball skill and chances are Larry Fonacier's probably performed it in one of the many stops in his decorated and multi-titled basketball career.

Shoot from the outside? Hit clutch baskets? Jumpshot? Layup left hand? Layup right hand? Use the glass? Stop and pop? Pick and roll? Pick and pop? Teardrop?

Check.

Drama hits Ginebra

Photo courtesy of Yahoo.Ph

What a strange way for Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to start their PBA Governor's Cup campaign.

First was the unseen retirement of one of our all-time favorites, Rudy Hatfield. Not only did the team lose one of its veteran anchors, it lost one of its better low post defenders with Hatfield choosing to close one of the more impressive 14-year careers this side of Philippine basketball.

And because we're talking about the league's most popular ball club here, the drama didn't end there. After coming off a surprise Commissioner's Cup Finals runner-up finish, head coach Alfrancis Chua opted to resign for "personal reasons" which many insiders believe was caused by all the coaching rigodon Ginebra and its owning San Miguel Corporation family did the last few weeks.

Hustle like Hatfield

Photo courtesy of interaksyon.com

After 14 years (on and off) with the Philippine Basketball Association-- from Tanduay Rhum to Coca Cola and finally to Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Rudy "The H-Bomb" Hatfield is finally calling it a career. This, after a so-so campaign in recent conferences following his nth comeback in the professional ranks.

We were not mistaken when we Tweeted the other day that Hatfield "reinvented" the way Filipino small forwards played the game. Back in the old days, small forwards were cast as one of the following: spread the floor wing shooter, defensive stopper or Mr. Intangibles. The guy who does the little things that almost go unseen by the not so educated basketball mind. It was almost, always one of the three. Can't be all (even the great NBA legend Magic Johnson had to concede on playing great lockdown defense, while Larry Bird lacked athleticism so there's always something holding small forwards back).

Gilas Pilipinas: The Stopper

Photo courtesy of pbafans.blogspot.com

When was the first time you saw Jean Marc Pingris play basketball?

Was it with the San Mig Coffee Mixers? When he was finally lauded as the league's best defensive player once a more prized basketball peer was moved out? Was it with the BMeg Llamados when he served as the ideal complementary piece to a rising superstar triumvirate? Or was it when he was a highly touted rookie with tons of potential and athleticism rocking corn rows and sporting a huge tattoo on his bicep?

We remember the wild beast with immense swagger back in a Philippine Basketball League All Star Slam Dunk contest. At the time, Pingris had no chance of winning against legit high-flyers and basketball aerial wizards (Nino Canaleta was only good at one thing then, and that was dunking it Dr. J style). How could he? He had an obvious advantage at 6"5 with little to no effort to really dunk the basketball (we're not talking about Michael Jordan here).

Gilas Pilipinas: The Great Big Hope

Photo courtesy of Interaksyon.com

The future of Philippine basketball is in good hands.

Whatever the 6"9 Cebuano giant and Gilas Pilipinas rookie Junemar Fajardo does or brings to the table for Gilas Pilipinas in the coming FIBA Asia games-- be it backstopping Marcus Douthit as the team's main anchor or "learning" on the bench ala Japeth Aguilar in previous years (highly unlikely), rest assured that you are looking at the man that will become the pillar for Team Pilipinas just like Asi Taulava did the last decade.

Despite the presence of Douthit, Aguilar and the possible and expected rise of 7"0 Greg Slaughter, the brunt of carrying the legacy of all great Filipino big men rests on Fajardo's broad shoulders. He has the hands for it, he has the size, speed and (as proven by his quick recovery from surgery) the grit to be the country's bannerman for years to come. Are we asking that Gilas head coach Chot Reyes eschew his preferred "small ball" and even ignore Douthit on the block? No. Are we asking that Fajardo gets more touches? No.

Gilas Pilipinas: Aguilar makes the cut

Photo courtesy of pba.inquirer.net

Hear us out.

Granted, we've been one of the biggest Japeth Aguilar haters/ trollers this side of the Pinoy Hoops Internet kingdom but all in good reason. The newly-minted Barangay Ginebra San Miguel big man has often drawn our ire/ frustration/ disappointment only because we expect so much. The physical tools are undeniable, the desire to play and fearlessness is admirable-- but at this point in Aguilar's now seasoned PBA career, we want more.

It's official: Gilas Pilipinas names final 12

Photo credits: pba.inquirer.net

Ladies and gentlemen, mga kababayan, here is your Gilas Pilipinas:

Jimmy Alapag, PG

Lewis Alfred Tenorio, PG

Jayson Castro, PG/SG

Jeffrei Chan, SG

Gary David, SG

Larry Fonacier, SF

Gabe Norwood, SF

Marc Pingris, PF

Ranidel de Ocampo, PF

Japeth Aguilar, PF

Marcus Douthit, C

Junemar Fajardo, C

We will breakdown each player in our succeeding entries, stay tuned.

Win an All-Access VIP pass to the D Rose Tour activities in Manila

Last month, adidas Basketball announced the D Rose visit to Manila. The last stop of his world tour, Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls will be engaging in various activities with fans and the media, including the Rose Originals Party, Fans’ Day, 3 on 3 Grand Finals, and Media Day.

D Rose fans also have a chance to meet and greet Chicago Bulls superstar Derrick Rose by participating in the Rose Tour Promo hosted by adidas, which runs until August 5, 2013. Every single receipt of  P2,000 from participating adidas stores entitles customers to participate in the raffle draw. 5 lucky winners will get a 3-day all-access VIP pass to the D Rose Tour activities, while 20 winners will get tickets to the Rose Originals party.