Because 12 players ideally compose a national team, it should be easy for Chot Reyes and the Gilas coaching staff to choose the next ten members.
The top two spots are reserved for Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto. This is a given. But Reyes said much earlier that none has a lock on a particular spot in the team.
Gee, this is very confusing.
As Gilas would be playing before the hometown crowd, Reyes’ statement will not sit well with Pinoy fanatics.
The FIBA Worlds in August is about two months away (more or less) and no official Gilas team has been formed up till this writing.
Is this not cramming, I am won’t to ask.
Ideally, Gilas final twelve should already be deep in training, taking part in mini-tournaments abroad against European ballclubs or American collegiate teams to foster chemistry and teamwork.
Reyes should be happy that so many young talents are available to choose from – either in the UAAP & NCAA and the PBA.
When the late basketball godfather Danding Cojuangco was funding the national basketball program, I remember him staying away from picking up PBA pros even if they were standouts and stars..
He told me in several personal interviews during the 80s when Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Yves Dignadice, Jong Uichico, Ludovico Valenciano et al were selected out of the collegiate ranks, that a long range development plan was the key to success.
He did not like cramming.
In the 1982 Asian Youth Basketball Championship held in Manila (which incidentally yours truly covered it live on radio), Samboy and company dealt China a heartbreaking defeat to clinch the much coveted diadem before a jampacked oveflowing crowd at the Araneta Coliseum.
All Pinoy fans are expecting Gilas to get into the next round after the preliminaries. But this is a big but.
Why? Because Reyes and the coaching staff have not yet selected the final twelve and are not yet in a training phase where chemistry and teamwork are already beginning to develop among the members.
Per schedule that I read, Gilas meets Dominican Republic first, then Italy and Angola, in this order.
The South American team plays much like Argentina. I reckon Gilas will have its hands full against these Latinos. Maybe, baka madisgrasya natin.
But versus Italy, the world’s number 10, I doubt it very much. They have many tall and speedy players who usually give even their US counterparts a headache.
Angola, the African champion, is not so renowned but Gilas should be careful. Overconfidence is self destructive.
Kai Sotto, I read, is ready to serve and so is JC.
Only ten disciples remain to be picked out from a large pool of 23 players.
I don’t think Reyes, his assistants (Tim Cone, Jong Uichico et al) will have a difficult time determining who’s in and who’s out.
The first consideration is health and fitness. Some players are coming out of injuries like JunMar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, who else?
Well, time is of the essence. Let’s hope we will not hear anymore (lame) excuses and regrets when the FIBA World Championships are over.
Good luck, Gilas. The Filipino nation is praying for your success! (Email feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
