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.