Fonacier says current Gilas more complete than 2013 version

MANILA, Philippines -- Ex-Gilas gunner Larry Fonacier believes that the current national team is more complete than their group that went on to win the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Men's Championship and went to last year's FIBA World Cup.

Fonacier scattered 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists but it was not enough to keep a rag-tag Talk n Text Tropang Texters from being massacred by the new Gilas team that he believed has yet to peak.

"We just gave what we can. That's all Gilas can ask.  Kahit kulang 'yung team namin, our best players are in their team, we still gave our best  and what we have," Fonacier said. 

The Tropang Texters tried to keep in step with the Nationals in the opening half as they only trailed by one in the first quarter, 22-23, and only five at the half, 40-45. But it was different story in the second half as Gilas stamped its superior firepower and ran away with the 93-77 victory. 

"For me, mas talented 'to, mas athletic and mas complete 'tong team na 'to. They got better, bigger and more athletic wings that will solve a lot of problems that we had before," said Fonacier, who rotated with Jeff Chan, Gary David and Gabe Norwood in the wings in the previous Gilas team. 

"Kasi dati, it was only me, Jeff, (Gary) and Gabe before were asked to defend bigger guys and nahirapan naman talaga kami, ako personally.  So this team, 'yung make-up nila addresses that problem right away.

The current Gilas team boasts of athletic wing defender led by the veteran Norwood along with Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, JC Intal and Calvin Abueva.

Fonacier believes that this current Gilas team has a legitimate shot of bringing the Philippines back to the Olympics next year in Rio, Brazil.  

"For me, makuha lang ni Andray (Blatche) 'yung laro niya, maybe kahit hindi 100 percent or close to what he showed in the World Cup, then they will really be in good shape," he said.