Gilas Pilipinas: A cut above the rest

While being mindful of showing their cards (running any FIBA World Cup-meant offensive and defensive sets), Gilas Pilipinas showed everyone watching the recently concluded 2014 PBA All Star Game why this is the ensemble that's Spain-bound later this year.

Unlike last year's meet, Gilas Pilipinas took care of the PBA All Star selection early and never looked back. Resident sniper Jeffrei Chan was at his sharpest, while Marcus Douthit made some key defensive stops to make sure that the message was sent right away.

Gilas Pilipinas isn't clowning around this time.

Salvaging the PBA All Star Weekend

So far, so bad.

In terms of achieving an "All Star Weekend" atmosphere, the PBA in general is doing a great job bombing promotions and marketing wise. We understand that they have no control over the airing of the festivities, but with the digital era upon us there's no reason for the league's annual showcase to not even make it to the Top Trending Hashtags on Twitter.

But instead of simply nitpicking, let's try to help the league we all love. The gate attendances for games are up, but as shown in last night's televised "Greats vs Stalwarts" game, not a lot of folks bothered to shell out money to watch what is really, a hodge-podge of a joke (with all due respect to the PBA Hall of Famers who put in the work-- shout out to the legend Noli "The Tank" Locsin).

The activities are: 3 point shootout, Obstacle/ Skills Challenge and the Slam Dunk competition.

Habla Espanol Gilas Pilipinas?

The dream continues for an archipelago of 7,107 islands lying in the South East of Asia.  After salvaging the Silver medal in last year's FIBA Asia Worlds-qualifying tournament, the Philippines -- bannered by a 12-man roster aptly called "Gilas Pilipinas" sets its sights on the FIBA Worlds to be held this 2014 in Spain.

But just how far can we dream, really?

Blurred Lines

The Blur
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

Consider yourself warned.

Talk'n'Text Tropang Texters' lead point guard Jayson Castro (William) has been on a tear this conference and his team could've easily been 4-1 instead of 3-2 (no thanks to old teammate and now Ginebra star Japeth Aguilar). It's pretty clear that Castro is trying to put the past behind him-- unable to "follow up" on his FIBA Asia "Best point guard in Asia" tag upon his Texters return last conference. There are no excuses really, since the guy who is now considered his full-on rival and widely recognized today as the "Best point guard in the Philippines" L.A. Tenorio, served flag and country just the same.

Surely, you can't be the "Best in Asia" if there's someone else who is considered better in your own country right?

Sinag Shines Through

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
(Photo courtesy of Spin.ph)

Before you readily dismiss Sinag Pilipinas’ 2013 Southeast Asian Games (held in the “you can actually hear the crickets on live television” empty Zayar Thiri Stadium in Myan Mar) gold medal in the men’s basketball tournament as something of a birthright, rest assured that it was no easy task for everyone involved.

Already a given is the pressure to win it all, brought about by our continued dominance of the sport this side of Asia. Adding to that is the way we fully expect this team not just to win—but to flat our send a message and obliterate the competition by winning by AT LEAST TWENTY POINTS.

Unfair? Unreasonable?

Widening the Gap

Dating back to the inclusion of the sport of basketball in the South East Asian Games in 1977,  the Philippines has successfully brought home the gold medal in every single edition held save for 1989 wherein we lost to host country Malaysia (2005 was held in the Philippines but scrapped owing to our FIBA suspension while in 2009 Indonesia nixed the sport due to lack of facilities).

So there is some truth when Filipinos proudly declare that the country is the "Kings of Southeast Asian Basketball."

The kids are all right

Alas & co vs South East Asia
(Photo courtesy of Sports5)

With the mainstream collegiate basketball season almost at its end, the focus now shifts on the coming 27th South East Asian Games (December 11 to 22, to be held in Myanmar) where the Philippines is favored to dominate the sport anew.

Already announced to call the shots is Meralco Bolts assistant coach Jong Uichico (who, at this point in his career, is really over-qualified for the job but hey) to be aided by Far Eastern University’s brain thrust Nash Racela and Josh Reyes. Naturalized center Marcus Douthit will also suit up which pretty much guaran-damn-tees us to be one of the medal favorites.

Rounding out the Gilas 12

No Kelly? Bring in Arwind.

Kelly Williams. Jared Dillinger. Sonny Thoss.

Of the initial 15-man Gilas Pilipinas pool released by the Philippines' men's basketball team head coach Chot Reyes, only 12 remain standing. Not because they were the shoo-ins or favorites to make the spot, but because after potentially having what seemed to be the greatest frontline combination in the history of Philippine basketball Gilas finds itself short of three key players.

There's former PBA Most Valuable Player Kelly Williams whose rare combination of size, speed and athleticism on both ends of the floor make him the ideal partner for Gilas anchor Marcus Douthit as a weak side rebounder and help defender (Ranidel de Ocampo comes in more for offense). Unfortunately, Williams' battle with a rare blood disorder has put him on the sidelines (indefinitely we hope) so there's that.

Room for Arwind

Disrupting Gilas Pilipinas’ hard-earned and –fought chemistry would be the last thing we’d like to do. Hell, even dividing the online (hardcore) Pinoy basketball community is not something we wake up wanting to do either. But if there’s anything that the recently concluded PBA All Star Game showed, it’s that Gilas might be missing a superstar (or two) in its fold.

We don’t have to discuss the history and all the drama in detail, we know the back story more or less: “The Silent War,” “One player per team,” and “Injured or risk of injury.” Oh, and there’s also the “we’ve done our part before, so let’s see the rest do theirs” shtick.

Of the PBA All Stars that competed last Sunday night, Petron Blaze’s Arwind Santos stood out with his double-double effort of 27 points, 13 rebounds and 2 steals in 40 minutes of action.

So who really won?

So who really won?

Politics is an ugly thing, and it applies not only to our much-ridiculed government or church. It is part of everyday life, of trying to be “politically correct” in each and every scenario and “doing the right/ just thing” at all times.

In a previous entry we wrote about how the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Basketball team should take their exhibition game against the PBA All Stars as more than just a tune-up match. No, we weren’t asking that Gilas head coach Chot Reyes et al unleash 7”0 naturalized center Marcus Douthit on the undersized PBA selection or that they start showing off each and every set in the playbook. We simply wanted both teams to engage in a good, old-fashion “I’m better than you” brand of basketball.

The Anti-Gilas

If you can't join them, beat them.

Now that the Philippine Basketball Association, as a whole, is on board the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball program and its attempt to crash the medal round of the FIBA Asia 2013 World Qualifiers, hopes are indeed very high. After all, not only is the tournament going to be held in Manila, but because of the surplus of talent that has suddenly been made available to Gilas head coach Chot Reyes et. al.

In helping prepare Gilas Pilipinas for the coming tournament, the PBA will be shelving its annual All Star Game in lieu of a tune-up match pitting the "chosen ones" and players who didn't make the final cut (re: the "other" best players of the league). This is not a jab at the guys who were not chosen for one reason or another. This is a challenge, for them to not treat this as a "friendly" and just go hard. If they can spill blood, then go do so. To send the best, we need everyone on board to give their best.

Here's our list of the Anti-Gilas:

PG
Sol Mercado/ Paul Lee/ Alex Cabagnot
Since Mercado, who was doing work in the 2012 Jones Cup as a power guard spark plug, is ineligible under the new FIBA rules, it's only fitting that he gets first dibs on taking on fellow power guards and Gilas shoo-ins Jayson Castro and Ryan Reyes. Based on the last few months, Mercado is going to attack the rim and should give our prized point guards a run for their money. Lee comes in to spell Mercado to score and orchestrate. Cabagnot, when his head is screwed on straight, is a legit playmaker who is a wizard on offense.

Looking for the right fit

Six games into the conferences and we've more or less established which teams have meshed well with their respective imports and those who have not.

Leading the pack are returnees Adam Parada of Alaska and Earl Barron of Meralco, followed by Marcus Douthit of Air21, Denzel Bowles of B-Meg, Rodney White of Barako Bull, Jackson Vroman of Ginebra, Nick Fazekas of Petron, Dwayne Jones of Powerade, Duke Crews of Rain or Shine and Donnel Harvey of Talk 'n' Text.

KKS Big Daddy Douthit
unstoppable on the block

Marcus Douthit, Air 21
A finesse big man who is pretty much the most versatile of the lot. He can run, score, rebound and intimidate-- all at 7 feet. He's not a locker room cancer or barks orders to his young teammates, and has the international pedigree to command double teams and know what to do in different scenarios. While the acquisition of champion-level guys like Bitoy Omolon and Mark Isip have helped the Express a lot this conference, it's Douthit who is leading the way with his steadying presence.