With just days before the FIBA Asia 4th Qualifying Window, Gilas faces the stark reality that they will miss their best offensive player. After the positive development of Kai Sotto’s return, Coach Tim Cone finally admitted that Justin Brownlee will not be able to join the team. Filipino hoop fans just can’t seem to get nice things.
Thus, the Gilas Pilipinas will face Jordan and Iran on home soil without the advantage of having a naturalized player. Jordan will also miss their naturalized mainstay, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, so the rivalry with Brownlee is temporarily shut down.
However, Jordan will be reinforced by Jalen Harris. Gilas was not able to activate any of the other naturalized players. Meanwhile, Iran will continue to field homegrown talents, as they refuse to utilize any naturalized players.
This is the current state of Gilas, and there are no more alternatives. Tim Cone continues to stick to his guns and will not make any last minute additions.
No Plan B
The option to field a naturalized player should always be taken. This is why we have multiple naturalized players, and we continue to expand the pool. So how come we were left empty-handed in the most crucial, do-or-die window?
Side note: There are elaborations that Gilas would not face definite elimination even if we lose both games. That may be true, but it places us in situations where our destiny would be dependent on the results of other games’ results. It’s a discussion we’d rather not take.
The credit (or blame) is on Tim Cone. His emphasis on familiarity has made him stubborn. Despite being given a wider leeway, he has resisted attempts to expand the pool. That included the possibility of using a different naturalized player.
Our current naturalized options are limited. Since Bennie Boatwright’s papers are still inexplicably unsigned, the true options are Ange Kouame and Malik Diouf. They are definitely not Brownlee types, but both are 6’11 and young.
The past weeks saw basketball fans complaining about not having Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips. Even Kai Sotto, prior to his sudden attendance. Having a young 6’11 experienced player would not have hurt.
It was reasoned that both players had other commitments, specifically the Jones Cup which happened during the start of the practice sessions. That’s a lame excuse. Everybody knows that the FIBA qualifying windows are the priority. If the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) wanted them, they could have reserved them.
But the SBP did not show any interest or intention. They were confident that Brownlee would show up. That was absurdly negligent. Cone is Brownlee’s coach with Ginebra. Surely, he should have known that Brownlee would not recover in time for the qualifying windows.
The more accurate assessment is that Cone simply did not want to make drastic adjustments. It was his call, and he is secure enough to live and die with his decision. For this reason, he will take either credit or blame.
Realistic Chances
The main concern in Brownlee’s absence is offense. We have discussed the reality that Gilas would need to move on from JB, but not this soon, and not without his replacement.
Gilas is dependent on Brownlee being the center of the offense, whether as the initiator or simply to draw the opponent’s defensive focus. Since Brownlee is accustomed to doing it all as an import, it’s hard to find a single player who can replace his contributions.
Since Jordan is in a similar boat with the absence of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, we stand an even chance against them (even if they have a replacement and we don’t). Iran is different, as they are taller and more physical, and are used to having their locals as prime contributors.
The best case scenario is for them to win both. That is our hope. However, a 1-1 outcome is more realistic. Nevertheless, if Kai Sotto asserts himself and our locals play at their peak, we can keep the Iranians close and pull off a win.
We are Filipinos who embraced the “never say die” mindset, but available alternatives were not taken to avoid digging ourselves a hole this deep.
