The feat accomplished by our national basketball team in the just concluded FIBA Asia Championships again saw unity among Filipinos normally reserved for PacMan fights. Even P-Noy (never known to be a basketball fan), reluctantly as reported, was at the MOA Arena's luxury box. Maybe if he didn't get himself persuaded to watch the game the Gilas prevailed over Iran? Whatever.
Depending on the luck of the draw, we can either meet or avoid Spain and the US in next year's FIBA World Cup. These two countries are automatic qualifiers as Team USA is the reigning Olympic champion and Spain is the tournament host.
Just in case of a US encounter, imagine these matchups - Gabe Norwood vs Kevin Durant, Kevin Love vs Ranidel de Ocampo, Anthony Davis vs Japeth Aguilar, Jimmy Alapag vs Derrick Rose, James Harden vs Gary David, Paul George vs Marc Pingris, Jason Castro vs Russell Westbrook. Hands down, I'll go for Castro aka William over Westbrook, pa gwapohay lang.
Aside from the US, Spain, Iran and Korea, the Gilas will have to contend with six teams from Europe, 3 from Africa, 4 from the Americas, 2 from Oceania and four invited teams.
--oo--
For 11 days, the country got hoops fever and for the same number of days trooped to the MOA Arena or were glued to their TV sets and shout their throats hoarse seeing Jason Castro ran rings around taller opponents and wait in anticipation for Japeth Aguilar's soaring slams.
Newspaper columnists from different news outfits whose columns normally contradict sports surprisingly did materials on the Gilas. Most were lavish in their praises on the team's achievement but a few sounded like instant experts on the sport, with eyebrow-raising results. Imagine a foodie or travel writer analyzing a basketball game. A 20-second shot clock violation can be understood as the minimum amount of time needed to poach an egg, or a defensive alignment could be meant as customs and immigration officials swooping down on a hapless traveler.
Prior to the staging of the Asian Championships, NBA stars LeBron James and James Harden came to our shores one after the other. A day after the finals, Kobe Bryant flew in from China. To set the story straight, there is no truth to the rumor that these three NBA superstars were asked by USA Basketball to do some scouting on the Gilas. Scout gyud?
Haters meanwhile wanted only pure, homegrown talents on the team. Yeah, right. These people sound like left-leaning rallyists chanting mindlessly on the streets. We do have the talent but it's the preparation and background that matters when compared to those who come from stateside. That is where the difference lies and it's so glaring it has blinded these naysayers.
Check our national football and rugby teams. We made good in international competitions because of players with mixed parentage and these athletes were tutored in the intricacies of the game by coaches with methods more technically advanced than what is normally taught locally as they are based in the land of their fathers.
Talent considered, let's go to size. We are a country endemically populated by a majority of borderline dwarfs, yet we so love a game more suited for telephone poles disguised as basketball players. To just even make a whimper in the world stage, we need to upsize, from small to super large.
We are in dire need of at least two highly mobile athletes standing no less than 6'10" to be competitive. The present lineup could do in the regional stage but there must be adjustments by the time we go to Spain next year.
Let us not limit ourselves to American candidates for naturalization. Why not go for Europeans, Koreans, Chinese, Japanese and yes, Iranians as these nationals have sizeable communities countrywide and they could adapt easily.
Let us make Junemar Fajardo shine. He lacks international exposure and it shows in his game. He has the size and the bulk to bang bodies with the big guys, and he is mobile. Let the battery of coaches on the national team do their thing on Junemar, sooner or later, the need for naturalized players could be minimized if his potential will be fully utilized. And what about Greg Slaughter? A seven footer is a seven footer and this seven footer has international experience. What happened to him?
We have a year to go and there's no reason to relax. We are entering basketball's biggest stage and when we set foot in Spain next year, from the eyes of everyone, we are at least ranked #24 in the world. Let us not be complacent as complacency killed the cat. A once-weekly practice at least, would be advisable to maintain cohesion.
bobbytoohotty@lycos.com