Pakitang Gilas: Life after FIBA Asia 2013

Back to the crazy that is the PBA
(Photo courtesy of PBA InterAKTV)

The magical run to the FIBA Asia 2012 silver medal was nothing short of historic, with the Gilas Pilipinas program setting its sights on the coming FIBA Worlds competition in Spain next year. But world-wide glory will have to take a backseat as the players (and coaches and staff) have all returned to their mother PBA ball clubs to compete for the prestigious PBA Governor's Cup and end their PBA season with a bang.

We take a look at how the Gilas Pilipinas roster is doing in the on-going tournament, ranking them from 11 to 1 based on their performances.

11. Jimmy Alapag, PG, Talk 'n' Text
The captain has been busy chilling with family in the U.S. Having played for the country for so long the last decade, who's going to complain if Alapag opts to sit out the rest of the conference?

10. Jeffrei Chan, SG, Rain or Shine
4 games 22mpg 6ppg 2rpg 3apg
Did Chan shoot himself dry in the FIBA Asia? The Negros Sniper is going through a lengthy shooting slump as of late, dating back to the last conference (good thing it didn't show as much in the FIBA Asia tournament). Fortunately for Chan, he has guys like Paul Lee and Ryan Arana picking up the offense. If he's not too careful, Chris Tiu is going to take his spot as his team's best shooter from deep.


9. Gabe Norwood, SF, Rain or Shine
4 games 19mpg 4ppg 2rpg 2apg
We saw it coming. Now that Tiu's coming along nicely as an able PBA point guard together with Lee, Norwood has returned to the small forward spot. Except that, everything he does on the court be it on offense or defense, is in the way of import Arizona Reid who likes to freelance just the same. The 2 rebounds and 2 assists a game is a little unnerving.


8. Japeth Aguilar, C, Barangay Ginebra
3 games 18mpg 7ppg 5rpg
We'll try to keep this clean since we've promised on a self-imposed "Japeth ceasefire." Aguilar's not living up to expectations while playing alongside low post import Dior Lowhorn. He needs to learn to work the weak side better, get freebies (rebounds and points) and not just look for simple-minded lobs or bunnies. Defensively, we are loving Aguilar's activity. But yeah, given his height, experience, speed and mobility, 7 points and 5 rebounds is beneath him at this point.

7. Ranidel de Ocampo, PF, Talk 'n' Text
2 games 6ppg 9rpg 3apg
RDO, KKS-dubbed The Doctor or Ang Dalubhasa, is taking his sweet time just trying to get back into the Texters' flow of things. He's not forcing it, but he's doing the little things for his team (rebounding). Thanks to high scoring import Tony Mitchell and the improved post play of Rabeh Al Hussaini, RDO can simply sit back for now and go on "cruise control" until called upon. Still, impressive numbers given the fact that he could simply let Al Hussaini do all the dirty work and start jacking up shots for himself.


6. Gary David, SG, GlobalPort

4 games 34mpg 13ppg 2rpg

The "Gary! Gary! Gary!" chants have ended, but David's shooting slump hasn't. He's been taking the superstar shots, but he hasn't been making them as steadily as before. Still, now that he has able guys like Sol Mercado, Willie Miller and Jay Washington in the fold, David's playoff hopes are starting to look brighter once more.

5. Junemar Fajardo, C, Petron Blaze
5 games 24 mpg 9 ppg 8 rpg
The Kraken finds himself in the middle of our Post-Gilas list because of his consistent, if not steady, body of work. He is Petron's anchor for the future, now more than ever and it is pretty obvious that they are truly invested in him moving forward. With Petron's spread-out offense, Fajardo serves as an able contributor right from the start and isn't being force-fed the basketball as with the previous coaching regime. For a rookie big man, we'd say that Fajardo is having a pretty solid season which we hope would only get better.


4. Marc Pingris, PF, San Mig Coffee
3 games 31mpg 12ppg 9rpg
Tim Cone, admittedly or not, didn't know what to do with Pingris when he first came in. That, or he was trying to give Kerby Raymundo a lot of minutes at Pingris' expense if only to add on his trade value. With the minutes, Pingris is proving to be the team's true heart and soul and it will be pretty interesting how they fare possibly without him (possible suspension) the rest of the way.

3. Jayson Castro, PG, Talk 'n' Text
2 games 31mpg 15ppg 3rpg 5apg
Crowned FIBA Asia's best point guard, Castro is getting all the minutes with senior/mentor Alapag still on vacation. Castro hasn't disappointed, putting up stellar numbers while still keenly distributing the basketball. We'd rank him higher, only...

2. Larry Fonacier, SG, Talk 'n' Text
2 games 27 mpg 15ppg 2rpg 2apg
If anyone ever benefited from the Gilas Pilipinas experience and boosted his stock, it's no other than Larry Fonacier. Now recognized as one of Philippine hoops' elite guards, Fonacier has been pretty efficient at either the 2 or 3 spots for Texters coach Norman Black and is arguably the "best" of the troika of SGs we sent to FIBA Asia and possibly, the Worlds.

1. L.A. Tenorio, PG, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel
5 games 35mpg 14ppg 5rpg 9apg
Remember when we said that Tenorio has inherited the "Best PG in the Philippines today" mantle from Jimmy Alapag? Only to have Gilas teammate Jayson Castro blitz and blur his way in en route to the FIBA Asia Best PG title? Well, this isn't the FIBA Asia. Teams are not playing as much zone. This is the Philippines, and 14 points and 9 assists a game says Tenorio is still the best in the business today.