The FIBA Qualifying Windows on August 28 and 30 are virtual do-or-die games. Since we dug ourselves a 2-4 hole, being able to beat only Guam in the past windows, we could no longer afford any losses.
We were grouped with the Pacific-Oceania countries (since that is our geographical location) and it included arguably the two best teams: Australia and New Zealand. We had a legitimate shot against the NZ Tallblacks, but it was clear we lacked inside presence. Presence that would have been provided by a young, 7-3 center.
During those windows, Kai Sotto was still in the late stages of recovering from injury. He also got married, and is now an expectant father. Now, he is joining the team although other key frontliners like Quentin Millora-Brown and Mike Phillips won’t be around.
Upgraded Kaiju
In his recent stint in the Japan B.League, Kai Sotto has vastly improved. He has embraced his position and role. In his highlights, he has shown masterful positioning and sound rapport with his teammates. He usually plays off the ball in pick-and-rolls, but he is strong enough to post up world imports who are almost as tall and heftier than him.
This bodes well for Gilas since he is expected to carry an immense role in the offense. Since we are competing against the Middle Eastern teams, the pace is not as fast as the Japanese pros, but the play style will be physical and deliberate.
Gilas would need solid contributions from Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao, specifically on drawing the other frontline players away from the paint. This will keep the defense honest on Kai, hoping he can use his height effectively in a one-on-one matchup. Tamayo and Quiambao are both good shooters, and they need to show that to help Kai and JuneMar Fajardo.
It’s a given that Kai will render heavy minutes, so strength and conditioning must be a priority. Another factor to consider: Kai is a free agent, as his management agency is still keeping his options open. They have the NBA and the NCAA Division 1 as options (since the NIL policy of US college ball provides significant value). There were financial considerations in the negotiations, for sure, and that probably caused the hold up on Kaiju’s confirmation.
This will most likely be the last Kaiju-Kraken twin tower attack since JuneMar Fajardo is likely to hang up his Gilas jersey after the Windows. Let’s hope it will be a performance worthy to be remembered.
Will Shooting Be An Issue?
Past iterations of Gilas have performed well on the defensive end. Aside from the games against Australia, our teams have made gallant stands defensively, usually limiting the output of opponents below their team averages.
Coach Tim Cone subscribed to this philosophy, and that’s why he pierced a premium on veteran guards like Scottie Thompson, Chris Newsome, and CJ Perez. These players are already familiar with Cone’s defensive formation. However, it may seem like a low-risk, low-reward solution.
Since Cone has ten days to prepare, he has always placed a premium on familiarity, but that strategy has its drawbacks. Our opponents, Jordan and Iran, have faced these guards in the past, and have definitely scouted them extensively.
So the question is, will scoring, and specifically, outside shooting be an issue? All three are proven veteran performers in the PBA, that’s why they were perennially chosen. However, none of them has emerged as feared gunslingers in FIBA play.
This is why the clamor for Robert Bolick, Juan Gomez de Liano, and even RJ Abarrientos came about. Bolick is the best local scorer in basketball, but Cone may find him to be a loose cannon at his worst. Too risky for his taste, especially since these are crucial, must-win games.
Juan GDL has proven himself in New Zealand, and I think he may eventually be included. RJ, despite being Cone’s own, may be a matchup concern against bigger Arab guards.
Abarrientos and Bolick are likely to anchor the Asian Games team, and that would be their audition for FIBA. Cone will live and die by his system, and we hope it’s the former.