MANILA, Philippines – For Gilas Pilipinas team manager Butch Antonio, a big fighting heart is a character shared by the old and the current Gilas groups.
“You can’t really compare (the two groups) head-to-head. But common thing is the fight. What distinguishes is the heart and fight in them,” said Antonio.
“The difference is the names and the personalities that formed the team. But the bond, it’s not too far from what this team is building on,” Antonio also said.
Only Andray Blatche, Ranidel de Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Jayson Castro and Gabe Norwood are holdovers from the Gilas team under coach Chot Reyes that went all the way to the World Cup in Spain last year.
Matt Ganuelas-Rosser comes from the Gilas cadet program, Asi Taulava, Sonny Thoss and Dondon Hontiveros are returning from previous national teams while Terrence Romeo, Calvin Abueva and JC Intal are newcomers.
Out from the 2013 FIBA Asia Gilas team are Marcus Douthit, Junmar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, LA Tenorio, Jeff Chan, Larry Fonacier, Gary David and Jimmy Alapag.
Antonio handled the original Gilas group including Greg Slaughter, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca and Macmac Baracael before giving way to Aboy Castro in 2013-14.
But Antonio has definitely seen it all and observed everything Gilas has gone through.