BY now, Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff and management are thinking about the possibility of shoring up its roster and the change must start in the next few weeks.
The sooner, the better.
Collectively, the team needs to look beyond the achievements of the players in the pro leagues as playing in FIBA-sanctioned events, most especially the world stage, doesn’t necessarily mean bringing in the best players, but tapping the right ones who could play together and fit well with the team.
The first two windows of the qualifiers served as an audition and there were players who stood out, players who had shone potential and individuals who need to shape up or will be shipped out.
Quentin Millora-Brown and AJ Edu had proven themselves worthy of securing spots in the roster.
They filled in the void left by Christian Standhardinger and Japeth Aguilar, two big men who served the national teams for several years.
MIllora-Brown was a Standhardinger prototype in terms of built and aggressiveness, but perhaps the former had shown glimpses that his game can be developed even more, particularly his outside shooting.
Edu is a 6-foot-10 center who ably occupied the big shoes left by Aguilar and just like his predecessor, the Filipino Cypriot is long, athletic and can provide the intimidation presence badly needed by the Philippine team.
But basketball isn’t just about finesse and athleticism, but also about brute, strength and physicality, and somehow, we’ve seen how the bigger, taller and tougher teams from New Zealand and Australia were able to manhandle the Filipinos right at our home soil.
And with our tallest and perhaps most important piece, Kai Sotto, missing the second window of the 2027 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, that physical presence should come from June Mar Fajardo.
Age and injuries had certainly slowed down Fajardo, who dominated the Philippine Basketball Association for the past decade on his way to winning nine Most Valuable Player awards on top of 12 championships.
Easily included in the GOAT (greatest of all time) debate, the biggest debate that could happen now as far as Fajardo is concerned is whether he should continue playing for the national team or give his spot to somebody else.
His shoes are certainly too big to fill for anyone, literally and figuratively, unless you’re a seven-foot player like Sotto.
But Filipinos are so sentimental and doesn’t want to cut off their heroes just by that and Fajardo is a very nice guy who is humble enough to give way and let the other players shine while making contributions any which way he can.
My guess is the 2027 FIBA World Cup — if ever the Philippines will qualify — will be his swan song.
You don’t want to look past the next windows of the Asian Qualifiers and foolish enough to think about the Olympics ahead without focusing on the job at hand that is the next window in July where the Filipinos will advance in the next round to face teams from the Middle East.
The next window of the qualifiers will be an all-out war, but you need soldiers who are willing to do battle with you.
Juan Gomez de Liano hurdled his first test and made a good impression in the second window and you don’t want to pass up on young players like Kevin Quiambao and Carl Tamayo as well as Calvin Oftana, players who have the size and the versatility to play the small forward and big guard positions in the international tournament.
Oftana, though, had to be more aggressive and shoot the ball more.
Scottie Thompson, another sentimental favorite, and Chris Newsome, had done their share for the national team, but realistically, they should be closely monitored if they should be included in the next window or bring in a more reliable gunner or a floor spacer like a Jordan Heading.
CJ Perez had proven himself a fighter and that’s the reason why he was able to keep his spot in the first two windows.
Then, of course, there’s Justin Brownlee, our naturalized player, who has been carrying the torch for us ever since he took over the role from NBA star Jordan Clarkson.
Pending the approval of Philippine citizenship to Bennie Boatwright, Brownlee, the six-time PBA champion and two-time Best Import and the hero in the Philippines’ gold medal run in the Asian Games, remains to be our go-to reinforcement.
Even Brownlee had shown us glimpses of decline, yet we want to give our heroes a fitting exit plan.
Boatwright’s appearance this April could be crucial as this will set the direction and future of our Philippine basketball team.