US losses: warning to RP

The United States’ twin losses at the World Basketball Championships were very revealing of how differently nations run their basketball programs. But they should also serve as a warning shot to countries that reflect the American style, like ours.

The RP-Selecta team may take heart in the fact that the US, like China, was once thought to be unbeatable. On the other hand, the Dream Team, like RP-Selecta, was an amalgamation of the best professionals in the country.

Since 1988, when the US team, made entirely of college players, placed third in the Seoul Olympics, the Americans took full advantage of their having superior talent in the NBA, and assembled the first "Dream Team" that had to qualify for Barcelona through the Tournament of the Americas. It has not been a case of the rest of the world catching up, but more of the NBA players not really wanting to take on the job anymore.

The NBA’s best players were not at the World Championships. Many of those there had probably never seen international competition, or don’t remember when they last did. And, I guess this is the crux of the matter, they don’t feel it’s their job. USA Basketball, much like the BAP, did not devise a long-term program to create teams that would stand up to international competition.

Look at the parallelisms with the Philippines. No more tryouts. Time was when everybody wanted to be on the national team. It was an HONOR. Now, it’s a stepping stone to a bigger salary. Now, once a coach is picked, he drafts players. No amateur has a chance with this scenario. And why would a multimillionaire threaten his future for a small piece of hardware, especially when he’s already done his bit for God and country? Think about it?

Meanwhile, other countries play year-round, in the amateur style that is needed for international competition. Jong Uichico said "We’re asking guys to change what they’re been doing their whole careers. Even I myself, when the going gets tough, fall back on what works in the PBA: low post and one-on-one plays."

The coaching staff of our team wishes they had played more internationally. Imagine their shock in Italy, when they noticed that a different kind of ball was being used, one which wreaked havoc on their shooting. Now, they’ve started practicing with the authentic Asian Games balls.

It was, no doubt, devastating for USA Basketball to be so rudely kicked out of such a prestigious tournament. But what are they going to do now, force NBA players to see action? Any American will claim a constitutional right to say no, especially in the US, which prides itself on its freedoms.

What about the Philippines? If, on a moonshot, we do win, we’ll get all puffed-up about it. But this will just be an expensive bandage to the wound. There is a puncture wound that is the vacuum of not having a national team train full-time.

Although it’s timely that Chito Loyzaga, Butch Maniego and Louie Kierulf of the late MBA are organizing the Philippine National League that will play only from November to June, will they be strong enough to represent us abroad? Where will we get players good enough, without having to tax the PBA’s "graduates" from international competition?

So the system has to change. But how?