Sizing up the Philippine team

The Southeast Asian games are coming up fast, and it will likely be another major disappointment for local sports fans. Hopefully, stalwart sports like boxing, bowling and billiards will carry the day and satiate some of those who will be watching the competition via Jemah Television over NBN 4. Still and all, the gold that matters the most will be the one in basketball, and for coach Aric del Rosario, the mandate is simple: do not lose.

Now that he has gotten his wish to have the four UAAP players in his original line-up (Wesley Gonzales and Rich Alvarez of the Ateneo de Manila Blue Eagles and James Yap and Paul Artadi of the University of the East Red Warriors), will he have the manpower to maintain the only championship that brings some redemption to our fallen international campaign?

The Philippine team struggled yesterday against Viva Mineral Water, and it is clear that chemistry will be a problem. And, although seeing action in the Philippine Basketball League Platinum Cup is a big help, it came at a price. National team members with contracts in the PBL cannot see action against their mother teams. Yap, Artadi, Ervin Sotto and Marc Pingris suit up for Welcoat Paints, Gonzales, Alvarez and Allan Salangsang wear the colors of Fash, Gary David and Willie Wilson play with Montaña Pawnshop. That’s two-thirds of the team right there.

Our team’s scouts have studied all the opponents they will face in the 10-nation tournament, save for Indonesia, but the question will not revolve around its athletic ability. Instead, the concern is how flexible, resilient and versatile the line-up is.

Guards. This may be the team’s greatest strength. On the surface, the backcourt may seem short, but in reality, it isn’t. At the point, Artadi and Celino are arguably the best amateur point guards out there. Cruz always made sure Far Eastern University was a contender, and led Ateneo-Hapee to its first title in the PBL. Artadi has taken UE to titles in the Champions League and Bantay Bata Showdown, and is as tough as they come when he’s got his head screwed on straight. Dennis Madrid is always a stabilizing influence, as shown by his Batangas Blades and Negros Slashers stints, both culminating in championships.

The rest of the backcourt are the most gifted athletes on the team. PBL Most Valuable Players Gary David, ICTSI and veteran of DLSU’s championship run Willie Wilson, and even Gonzales bring size and speed with their versatility. Coach del Rosario can go big or small, and, with Wilson and Gonzales, has the ability for the backcourt to go deep on defense and recover. This will be a nightmare for other coaches to match up against.

Forward. Another goldmine. The trio of UAAP MVP James Yap, past MVP Rich Alvarez, and MBA veteran Richie Melencio are tough to handle, and have the size to play either the four or five spot. As long as Yap and Melencio take shots only when they’re open, scoring opportunities should be abundant. On top of that, these are all guys who enjoy running the floor. Against teams like Thailand and Malaysia, that may be crucial in gaining the upper hand early in the game.

Center. A solid rotation here. With Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Ricky Calimag, Ervin Sotto and Allan Salangsang, we may have actually overdone it. But Pingris and Salangsang can play more than one position, and that includes filling the lanes on a fastbreak. Rebounding won’t be a problem, provided the boys use their brains and don’t try to just outjump everybody.

In international competition, there are some imperatives, since scores are usually low: shoot well from the outside, take care of the basketball, and run when you can.

On the first account, that may be a bit of a question mark. Our guards shoot reasonably well, but when the game is on the line, most of our players are great at posting up or penetrating, so that may be a liability if the defense is strong.

In terms of turnovers, Cruz and Madrid, in particular, are excellent at protecting the ball, despite their relative lack of size. With a vast array of weapons to choose from, they may have the luxury of giving up the ball and simply admiring their teammates in action. But once again, the outside shot is the best safety valve.

Running will be no problem at all. Our boys love American-style fastbreaking, and they showed this in their college games, so it should come naturally. Besides, this would be the best way to overcome any deficiencies in jelling.

From the way things look, our players just have to show a little more toughness and finesse, especially against the region’s other powerhouses. How we defend the outside shot and react to poor officiating will also be critical. But overall, it looks like the gold medal may be safe until we have to defend the title here at home.