Sunday, July 23, 2006
Team Philippines would've been awesome
Team USA has been preparing it's team for the past several months beginning when they selected legendary NCAA coach, Mike Krzyzewski, and his staff. They have selected 30 of the best players that will best fit the team and require from them a (relatively) long-term commitment. A far cry from the previous selection process - just getting the 12 biggest American stars and put them together for a few weeks.
Now, if you remember, this is EXACTLY how Team Philippines was being built... only we initiated this process well before these Americans ever even announced their own plans, and the American press make it look as if what they're doing is completely novel and revolutionary.

Obviously, we were going in the right direction and we were a few steps ahead of the supposed global leader in basketball in terms of process. Just think where Team Philippines could've gotten if not for all of the bullshit our local basketball politics has had to go through.
I'm not saying that we would've had a realistic chance at challenging Argentina, Lithuania, the U.S., or any of the established big teams in the international basketball scene any time soon, but we certainly would've been able to at least leave our mark in FIBA basketball and build for the future.
Now, if you remember, this is EXACTLY how Team Philippines was being built... only we initiated this process well before these Americans ever even announced their own plans, and the American press make it look as if what they're doing is completely novel and revolutionary.

Obviously, we were going in the right direction and we were a few steps ahead of the supposed global leader in basketball in terms of process. Just think where Team Philippines could've gotten if not for all of the bullshit our local basketball politics has had to go through.
I'm not saying that we would've had a realistic chance at challenging Argentina, Lithuania, the U.S., or any of the established big teams in the international basketball scene any time soon, but we certainly would've been able to at least leave our mark in FIBA basketball and build for the future.
Comments
G: I think the PBA has nothing to do with the lack of players, yung mga nainvite sa pool, hindi sumipot. Alaska and SMB were figuring out in the semis then (Dondon went straight to the game after arriving 2 hours from the airport). Meanwhile, Purefoods and Red Bull were playing in the finals. Ginebra players were resting their injuries (pagbigyan na). Talk 'n Text and Air21 were competing in some league.
Kaya inadjust yung PBA schedule kasi it should give way to the international tournaments during July-September. Kaso delayed ang PBA, for some reason. Dati July 10, 2005 tapos na ang PBA (the same day La Salle beat ateneo and that ford fiasco; this year July 21 natapos). Expect it na madelay lalo next year with the arrival of Welcoat in the PBA.
One good point is that this tournament is a good exposure for young players like arwind santos, denok miranda, LA Tenorio, Joseph Yeo, etc.
It's either agahan pa lalo yung opening ng PBA (which is scheduled on October 1, 2006), OR mag-long break from the PBA games during international tourney.
May program naman ang PBA and the RP team, ang problem talaga, hindi tayo makacompete sa international competitions dahil nagpapatigasan ng b-y-g yang mga leaders natin (hinga, carlo, hinga). Magpitikan nalang sila ng bay-g nila. haha. Suspended pa rin tayo from playing in FIBA-ruled tourneys! woohoo!
Well, there's only one jawo who could pull off a silver medal in the asian games :P
Kaya inadjust yung PBA schedule kasi it should give way to the international tournaments during July-September. Kaso delayed ang PBA, for some reason. Dati July 10, 2005 tapos na ang PBA (the same day La Salle beat ateneo and that ford fiasco; this year July 21 natapos). Expect it na madelay lalo next year with the arrival of Welcoat in the PBA.
One good point is that this tournament is a good exposure for young players like arwind santos, denok miranda, LA Tenorio, Joseph Yeo, etc.
It's either agahan pa lalo yung opening ng PBA (which is scheduled on October 1, 2006), OR mag-long break from the PBA games during international tourney.
May program naman ang PBA and the RP team, ang problem talaga, hindi tayo makacompete sa international competitions dahil nagpapatigasan ng b-y-g yang mga leaders natin (hinga, carlo, hinga). Magpitikan nalang sila ng bay-g nila. haha. Suspended pa rin tayo from playing in FIBA-ruled tourneys! woohoo!
Well, there's only one jawo who could pull off a silver medal in the asian games :P
oops, what I meant is, hindi mababa kalidad ng players natin, may sked lang talaga sila sa PBA and other tourneys :(
I still strongly believe that the future of Philippine basketball is in our supposed "bigmen". All of our guards and wingmen are just about as good as they can get, but with our bigmen going against the bigs of other countries, that's where we get beat.
Bit: but we really need good outside shooters in the mold of Allan Caidic. Zone defense kasi sa amateur. Remember, we got beaten by South Korea in Asian Games 2002 by a trey. gaddemit. Yun nga, in the words of Lim Eng Beng, "ang mga players ngayon ang hihilig magdrive at magdunk, eh two points rin lang naman yan. Kung magsho-shoot ka, pwede pang three points yan".
An inside-outside-run-and-gun game would be nice for us :D
An inside-outside-run-and-gun game would be nice for us :D
We got shooters a plenty. We need mobile big men. I don't want our big men who try to play an inside game that they have no chance of winning. A game of finesse wherein all five players on the court can somehow play a role in every offensive possession would be best. It's no secret that height is one of our disadvantages to our international counterparts.
Again, I hold that our smalls are as good as they can be... and if they're not, we got smalls aplenty, a lot with potential. (Yeah, iisa lang talaga ang Caidic... although very promising sila Ritualo at Yap).
Of the few Filipinos who are gifted with height, it's crucial for those who are interested in basketball to realize that in the international scene, their height is barely an advantage unless you can move like a small.
Look at Amare Stoudemire (and Boris Diaw) for example. Extremely undersized "bigs" (for American standards), but they perform extremely well by compensating with overall skills.
And while the words of Lim Eng Beng are ultimately true, no one can underestimate the morale boost of an effective drive and explosive finish to a team.
Again, I hold that our smalls are as good as they can be... and if they're not, we got smalls aplenty, a lot with potential. (Yeah, iisa lang talaga ang Caidic... although very promising sila Ritualo at Yap).
Of the few Filipinos who are gifted with height, it's crucial for those who are interested in basketball to realize that in the international scene, their height is barely an advantage unless you can move like a small.
Look at Amare Stoudemire (and Boris Diaw) for example. Extremely undersized "bigs" (for American standards), but they perform extremely well by compensating with overall skills.
And while the words of Lim Eng Beng are ultimately true, no one can underestimate the morale boost of an effective drive and explosive finish to a team.
Gusto ko nga palang idagdag si Elton Brand sa mga examples of big men who can move.
At kung sa local naman, I can think of Purefood's Pingris. And as G has kindly pointed out (to which I whole-heartedly agreed), almost perfect local specimen: Ramon Fernandez.
At kung sa local naman, I can think of Purefood's Pingris. And as G has kindly pointed out (to which I whole-heartedly agreed), almost perfect local specimen: Ramon Fernandez.
ah oo. I now know what you mean. Those "hybrids" like Tracy McGrady, Boris Diaw, Amare, Marion, etc. (hindi ako binayaran ni Jase). "Point-Forwards" as DiAntoni (tama ba spelling) would coin. :D
Right now two names come into my mind: Danny Seigle and Japeth Aguilar. Sana Arwind Santos din. hehe.
Kelangan natin si Jawo for his karate chops.
Good insight, Bit :)
Re: Ramon Fernandez, Norman Black mentioned Sonny Alvarado as his equal, but whadaheck, Puerto-Rican ang gago. haha.
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Right now two names come into my mind: Danny Seigle and Japeth Aguilar. Sana Arwind Santos din. hehe.
Kelangan natin si Jawo for his karate chops.
Good insight, Bit :)
Re: Ramon Fernandez, Norman Black mentioned Sonny Alvarado as his equal, but whadaheck, Puerto-Rican ang gago. haha.
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