KKS Gilas 3.0 (Part 1)

In this three-part series, we want to discuss the 12 men who we believe deserve to be on the final Gilas 3.0 roster headed by coach Tab Baldwin. First off are the 11th and 12th players who we feel should be more of the "utility" kind in terms of being able to contribute in so many ways and not just being typecast into one specific role (re: scorer, defender, rebounder).

Though the 11th and 12th guys don't always get to play or enjoy heavy minutes, we feel that the way the sport is being played nowadays is to make full use of every single man on the roster. This way, scouting reports in short tournaments (such as FIBA's) is thrown out the window because teams are unable to readily prepare for all 12 guys on the court. Against two, three players sure. But having to plan and set up defenses to combat 12 individual styles?

Not sure if even the best coaching minds could solve that one.

So without further ado, here's our pick for Gilas 3.0's 11th and 12th men:

Pinatubo Duo
(Photo courtesy of Spin.ph)

SF Calvin Abueva, 6"2, Alaska Aces

Every basketball needs a little bit of energy, a little bit of crazy-- that's where Abueva comes in as a replacement for the role played by Marc Pingris. The fiery competitor can be counted upon to play relentless defense on any Asian perimeter scorer while also being one of the best offensive and defensive rebounders around.

But perhaps what makes Abueva slightly better as a reserve than Pingris (who basically played his way into the rotation, stealing Japeth Aguilar's lunch money in the process) is the fact that Abueva has adequate guard skills on offense which makes him an even bigger threat on the floor despite not being the focal point of the coach's system. In the event that he's guarded by a traditional Asian shooting guard, well, Gilas could always call iso for Abueva and let him bully the "weaker" opposition who's not used to seeing "smaller" guys playing so aggressively in the paint.

PF Ian Sangalang, 6"7, Purefoods Star Hotshots
Though we will all have to "wait and see" how Sangalang comes back from a season-ending, infamously career-threatening injury (ACL), there's no denying that even though he's just in his 2nd year as a professional, Sangalang is already ahead of his peers in terms of skill set.

Simply put, Sangalang is a fleet-footed, better passing version of the premier power forward today in Ranidel de Ocampo with the only knock on the sophomore is perhaps, he's not as brutal with those elbows while Rdo a.k.a. Ang Dalubhasa, has the most educated elbows (and forearms, and backhands, and knees, and...) in the land. When the going gets tough and when plays are thrown out the window, this is where having a guy who can score, pass and defend comes into play.

The international game is played at such a high level that weaker teams simply cannot risk fielding in "compromises" or one-dimensional guys because he's "taller" or he can "probably play good enough defense. Nope, when shit hits the fan you need guys who are ready to do whatever it takes-- score a basket, make a stop, anything. This makes Sangalang a better 12th man than, say, a Japeth Aguilar, or a reserve than Beau Belga.

In part two, we will discuss the 2nd five based on the position that they play and why they are meant on the 2nd unit and not the 1st. Let us know what you think @kilikilishot on Twitter!