Defending champions: Philippines.
Yes, we need a reminder that in this coming 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, they have to take the gold medal from our countrymen.
Our collective hope is that they don’t give it away that easily. This should be a source of national pride, and should be defended at all costs, just like our territory.
While I may be classified as a pessimist, and my 1-1 prediction for the recent FIBA Window was pleasantly wrong, the doubts have a strong basis.
Gilas “Team B” Tapped?
Our 11-man team went to South Korea, a known Asian basketball power, for a couple of tune-up games. The result was horrendous, but that was somewhat expected. At the risk of being branded an apologist, there are facts about the team to explain the outcome.
Firstly, the South Korean team fielded their best players. That’s because the best Korean players are in their local league, the KBL (aside from NBA-bound Lee Hyun Jung). Thus, it was easy for them to tap and make themselves available.
In contrast, most of the best Filipino players are not in the local Philippine league, the PBA. They are in the Japanese B.League or also the KBL (notably Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao). While the KBL allowed their domestic players to play for their flag, they did not extend the same privilege for their Asian imports. Their contract only stipulates a release for FIBA events.
Thus, the SBP chose to send an all-PBA team. They also did not prepare contingencies like tapping the other naturalized players. Imagine, in a tournament where they can finally field more than one of our naturalized assets, they chose to send none.
Of course, Justin Brownlee was injured. But unlike the FIBA Windows, the SBP already knew that “Kabayan” was not coming. The hope of a last minute, never-say-die moment was basically just rhetoric.
Is the Gold Medal Not Worth Defending? The effort to defend the crown seems half-hearted. Sure, there were real obstacles. The Asian imports, arguably our best players, were really not available. However, the naturalized spot was questionable. Our team will be vastly undersized, and we had a pair of 6’11 players we could use, even at the same time.
The choice to send an all-PBA team may be due to coach Tim Cone’s penchant for familiarity. Rather than make an adjustment for naturalized players outside of Brownlee, he decided to stick to his guns yet again. He was vindicated in the FIBA qualifiers. Hopefully, his streak could continue.
Another factor is that the Asian Games now have diminished significance. It is not a qualifier for either the World Cup or the Olympics. In fact, many teams are not sending their top players, including the host team, Japan. Rui Hachimura, Yuki Kawamura, and their naturalized players are skipping the tourney. Instead, Japan will send young B.League standouts, using the event for developing new prospects.
South Korea has its reasons to prioritize the Asian Games, since winning the gold would provide their players an exemption from military service. China will also send a tall, young, CBA selection. Thus, they are the likely favorites.
Which Players are in “Team A”?
Since we are already in this discussion, who would be considered as the best players to represent the Philippines?Granted everyone is available, limiting the selection to locals (not naturalized), FIBA-eligible players, these would be the likely choices:
Bigs: Kai Sotto is the foundation of the team, and AJ Edu is his defensive partner. This is a world class frontline tandem. Quentin Millora-Brown rounds it up. All three of them have international (outside Asia) experience.
Forwards: The KBL duo are fixtures (Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao). Mike Phillips for his ability to match against taller players.
Guards: Ray Parks should be a regular in the same manner as Dwight Ramos. Rhenz Abando has the athleticism to be a two-way player.
PBA ranks: CJ Perez and Juan Gomez De Liano are my picks, and the last spot for Robert Bolick, simply because he is currently our best shooter. But that’s contingent on his Asian games performance.
