The Blueprint

Photo credit: ESPN.com

In 2008, Gilas Pilipinas was officially unveiled by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) led by some of the country's most optimistic and brilliant basketball minds. They recruited top college basketball stars led by Chris Tiu and JVee Casio, they sought out foreign-based prodigies like Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz, and offered a home for the then NBA-seeking 6"9 wunderkind Japeth Aguilar.

They also brought in Rajko Toroman, fresh from helping reshape the Iranian Men's Basketball Team into an Asian Basketball Powerhouse, to serve as the team's initial head coach. The team was backed by SBP and SMART Telecommunications, Inc., which meant that it did not have to reach out to the Philippine Basketball Association, its' teams, or the many "Godfathers" if you will, since they already have a big time player in the mix, one, Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan.

Initially, the team was making waves and winning games and tournaments. SMART Gilas 1 was formed in 2008 to compete in the bigger FIBA tournaments in 2012. There were names added here in there, including naturalized reinforcements such as CJ Giles, Marcus Douthit, and Andray Blatche. But soon, with some younger players opting out of the program to join the PBA in hopes for a bigger payday, Gilas 1 was left with no choice but to release its' players, and hope that their PBA ballclubs would release them at some point should the call of flag and country come by.

That last line, well, looking back, wasn't always the case now wasn't it?

Fast forward to 2023 and things are different.

The biggest thing with SMART Gilas 1 was, the players, most of whom were college stars, optimistic, young, bright, didn't have to worry right away of having to provide for their families. Tiu, the team's posterboy, certainly didn't have to worry about needing to earn more than hundred thousand paycheck at that time, compared to someone say, who probably came from the provinces and used basketball as a form of livelihood to provide for his parents, siblings, and then his own family. Right? It's just the truth to it and why most Filipino basketball players play professionally (or even in the bush leagues).

So after a year or two of service, injuries piling up, traveling to tournaments overseas... most of the young Gilas 1 prospects wanted out. Naturally. They wanted to earn more, get those Playoff and Championship bonuses, and enjoy the love and respect of adoring fans (who wouldn't want a chance to suit up for a team like Ginebra in the PBA?) 

So back then, sign with Gilas, play for 2-3 years, and wait for the PBA offer. 

The kids said that they would always suit up for Gilas when called upon. Sure. But what they didn't know back then, looking at it now, is that they gave up their rights to play for Gilas when they signed professional contracts with PBA teams. All of a sudden, they need to fall in line. 

Oh, you want to play for Gilas? Nope. We have a championship season coming up.

Oh, you want to play for Gilas? You're coming off an injury in which we paid you in full and took care of you and your family, could you kindly you know, repay us with some loyalty?

As harsh as that last one sounded, it's simply how the real world works.

But now, in 2023, all of a sudden, our college stars don't need to go to the PBA right away. They actually have choices, if they're good enough, and aren't signed up by some 'Padrino" or management team early in their basketball lives.

They can now actually try for a contract to play in Korea, Japan, Taiwan/ Chinese Taipei, Thailand or even Malaysia. There are options for our top stars. Some are chasing NBA dreams, but there's no harm in playing somewhere in East Asia just the same.

The money, which has always been the biggest factor here, will still be bigger.

Just a week ago, there's this little used and known PBA player who signed a deal to play in Korea. So all of a sudden, all you need to do is put together a great mix tape, and have a great agent to put in the work!

And the kicker? They're all available to play for Gilas 2023 and beyond, because those leagues 1) allow them to and 2) most of those same leagues are in the off season during FIBA tournaments.

Oh, and they play shorter tournaments to as compared to the PBA's 3 conference, 9-10-month season. 

So if we're going to be a bit mean to the PBA, which has generously shared its' resources over the last three years, the SBP could actually go back to their initial 2008 blueprint moving forward and let the PBA and its' hardcore fans be happy in their own little bubble, and form another SMART Gilas 1 team.

Recruit college stars, find overseas guys, add a naturalized big and... train them. If some would want to go to the PBA, let them, or if the PBA would want to share its' resources again, then so be it, but what you'll have is a core group of 12 kids, who will most likely get the attention of international scouts, have them play overseas and just recall them once a FIBA tournament hits.

Of course, that's the dream. Because PBA fans and the PBA would want its' stars to play for flag and country. And you don't really want your national team to be a bunch of unknown guys foreign to your local fanbase. But... you know, just a thought. Just saying, that the Gilas 1 blueprint, can actually work now more than before.

And by then, we'd have a fully functioning, fully cohesive group that wasn't put together in 20 days.

Just a thought.