Alapag: Gilas force to reckon with in coming Asian meet

MANILA, Philippines – Jimmy Alapag, the former Gilas Pilipinas chief playmaker who has just retired then was appointed as national team assistant coach, believes Team Phl has a good chance to top the coming FIBA Asia Championship and make the next Olympics.

Alapag pointed to Andray Blatche as the one who would make the big difference, mentioning a 40-point, 20-rebound performance by the Filipino naturalized player in a recent game in the Chinese Basketball Association.

“Dray would dominate the tournament (FIBA Asia) the way he’s dominating the CBA,” said Alapag of Blatche, a tremendous force in the CBA averaging 29.8 points and 14.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals for the Xinjiang team.

Alapag feels no one could stop Blatche in the FIBA Asia joust as the former Brooklyn Net proved unstoppable even in the FIBA World Cup.

In the last Asian meet, Gilas Pilipinas, with Marcus Douthit as naturalized player, placed second to Iran, thus, gaining a ticket to the last FIBA World Cup.

“I’m so excited about our prospects in the coming FIBA Asia,” said Alapag, believing Gilas Pilipinas would be formidable with coach Tab Baldwin’s plan to keep the core of the old Gilas team reinforced by some new additions also from the PBA.

Alapag said Purefoods Star stalwarts Mark Barroca, PJ Simon and Joe Devance are good prospects.

“As the point guard of a grand slam team, Barroca should make at least the national pool,” said Alapag.

“And oh I would love to see Joe Devance playing for Gilas,” Alapag also said.

As for himself, Alapag said he’s ready to do whatever task Baldwin hands him.

“I can share my knowledge and impart the big responsibility of being a national player,” said Alapag, a national team regular since the 2007 FIBA Asia Championship until his retirement.

Baldwin is to return from New Zealand on Jan. 20, and his first course of action as national coach is to sit down in a meeting with the members of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas special search and nominating committee.

Then, he talks with the mother ball clubs of his prospective players.

He has been given full authority to run the national team program, including the Gilas cadet team to be fielded in the Southeast Asian Games in Singapore in June.

As head coach now of Talk n Text, Jong Uichico is expected to relinquish his duty as coach of the Gilas cadet team that he steered to championships in the last SEA Games and most recent SEABA tourney.