Pinakamataas na National team ang kasalukuyang Gilas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines - Ito na ang pinakamataas na National team na nabuo para sa isang international basketball tournament.

Ang mga nasa frontline ng Gilas Pilipinas ay sina 6-foot-11 Greg Slaughter ng NLex, 6’10 naturalized player Marcus Douthit, 6’10 JuneMar Fajardo ng Petron, 6’9 Japeth Aguilar ng Globalport, 6’7 Sonny Thoss ng Alaska, 6’6 Ranidel de Ocampo at 6’6 Kelly Williams ng Talk ‘N’ Text at 6’5 Marc Pingris ng San Mig Coffee.

Muling maglalaro ang 26-anyos na si Aguilar sa Gilas matapos sumabak sa tryout camps sa NBA at NBA D-League.

“It feels great to be back with Gilas and represent our country,” sabi ni Aguilar. “First practice was exciting.  You can feel it from the other players that they’re excited too and happy to be in the pool.  We’re all competitors but we love to be teammates with each other.  The fact that the FIBA-Asia Championships will be held in Manila gives us more reason to take our job seriously.  The room for mistakes is very little.  This opportunity might not happen again so we really need to grab it.”

Sasabak ang Gilas sa darating na 2013 FIBA-Asia Men’s Championships sa Agosto 1-11 na siyang qualifying meet patungo sa 2014 World Championships sa Spain.

Sinabi naman ng 24-anyos na si Slaughter na isang malaking kara-ngalan ang makapaglaro sa National team.

“I’ve been with Gilas since Day 1 when we won in Nanning (invitational tournament sa southwest China noong 2008) and I’m happy to still be here,” wika ng dating Ateneo star center. 

“Our first practice was great and the new guys looked to be picking up the offense very well.  The most memorable thing for me was (PBA) Commissioner (Chito) Salud, (SBP) executive director (Sonny) Barrios, boss MVP (Manny V. Pangi-linan), boss (Ricky) Vargas and boss (Al) Panlilio all coming to show their support for the team and giving us inspirational talks,” dagdag pa nito.

Huling idinaos sa bansa ang FIBA-Asia (dating Asian Basketball Confe-deration) Championships noong 1973 kung saan nagkampeon ang mga Pinoy.

“Coach gave us a booklet about the team of 1973,” ani Slaughter.  “I’m the tallest player on the team and will do whatever Coach wants.  We’re a talented team with many pieces and I just have to play my role.”