MANILA, Philippines – After two defeats by Gilas Pilipinas in the Doha International Cup and two in the last window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers by an alarming 19-point average margin, fans are up in arms, some overreacting, because of what they perceive to be a national team in turmoil.
Critics are painting a doomsday scenario, conveniently forgetting how much this team accomplished prior to this skid.
There are a number of things, though, that are incontrovertible.
Gilas needs to find its identity, whether it means crafting a new one or resuscitating the old one when Kai Sotto was in the roster.
The offense has been over-reliant on Justin Brownlee. The defense has not been up to the level expected of a team coached by Tim Cone. The team has struggled to shoot consistently from outside.
Sotto’s absence has also been telling. In the two previous FIBA windows, the 22-year-old averaged 15.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.3 blocks. More than the numbers, what Gilas is missing is Sotto’s ability to change the dynamics of the game.
His presence alone influences the team’s spacing and how opposing squads employ defensive schemes against Gilas. He also allows the Gilas wings to stick to their men since the need to collapse on the penetrators or double team is lessened with Sotto serving as the last line of intimidation in the paint.
Gilas Pilipinas looked world-class with Sotto around, as evidenced by its sweep of its first four games in the Asia Cup qualifiers and its performance in the Paris Olympic qualifiers when it beat Latvia and narrowly lost to Georgia.
Without Sotto this February, the team has looked average at best.
Not just a Kai Sotto problem
To reduce the team’s struggles to Sotto’s unavailability, however, would be too simplistic of an analysis.
Gilas Pilipinas came close to beating world No. 24 Georgia even though Sotto left the game early after a bad fall. Against world No. 11 Brazil, the Philippines kept in step, even leading by 6 at the half, despite Sotto not playing.
Those two close losses against top caliber teams show there is a blueprint for Gilas Pilipinas to remain competitive even without its prized 7-foot-2 center.
This starts by renewing the commitment to buckle down on defense. In the four losses this February, Gilas gave up an average of 84.75 points, rather high for a 40-minute game.
It also made the Chinese Taipei and New Zealand gunners look like deadshot marksmen as Gilas conceded an average of 14 triples, easily translating to 42 points or half the average total team score that Gilas allowed.
The offense also did not appear in sync.
Although Brownlee has been a picture of consistency by norming 22 points in the last four games, no other key Gilas player averaged in double figures (Dwight Ramos – 8.5, AJ Edu – 7.25, Junemar Fajardo – 6.75, Scottie Thompson – 4.25, Calvin Oftana – 4.5, Chris Newsome – 5.5, Carl Tamayo – 3.25).
The returning Edu has been one of the few bright spots for Cone. The 25-year-old center of the Nagasaki Velca in Japan has been a workhorse off the glass. Ranged against the huge New Zealand frontline, the 6-foot-10 Edu snared 15 boards. Cone will need more of the same from Edu moving forward.
New names, perhaps?
Cone’s decision to stick to the current pool has been repeatedly questioned by various voices. It has become evident, however, that the team needs more materials. There are a number who are worth the consideration.
Veteran Troy Rosario could shore up the power forward spot, a position that Carl Tamayo still has not wholly owned.
Cone likes to employ a twin-tower combination, but less without Sotto. To continue this as part of the Gilas ammunition would entail adding more ceiling. Japeth Aguilar showed last Sunday, February 23, that he is still serviceable and capable of proving a good five-to-10-minute stretch.
The only other options are 6-foot-10 Quentin Millora-Brown, should his papers be in order, 6-foot-9 Geo Chiu who plays in the Japan B. League’s Ehime Orange Vikings, and 6-foot-7 Justin Baltazar of Converge.
A shot in the dark would be to appeal to FIBA to have 6-foot-10 Angelo Kouame reclassified as a local, the same way FIBA allowed Mohammad Gadiaga (Senegalese-American raised in Taiwan) to now play as a local for Chinese Taipei after initially being recognized as a naturalized player.
Jordan Heading’s name keeps getting mentioned as a possible addition to the squad and for good reason. He fits the bill of a designated shooter essential in international play. In the PBA, Heading has been making 38% of his three point attempts.
Cone likes tall, two-way wingmen who could slash and shoot. Two other players based in Japan have been displaying in-form shooting this season – Matthew Wright of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders (32.8%) and Bobby Ray Parks of the Osaka Evessa (33.6%).
Other than Brownlee, no other Gilas player is shooting over 28% from three.
Gilas converted an anemic 20.7% from three (6/29) versus New Zealand. Against Chinese Taipei, the Philippines made 10 out of 21, but only because Brownlee sank 8 of his 11 attempts.
The rest of the team was a pitiful 2-of-10. In the three games in Doha, Gilas Pilipinas only made 16-of-62 attempts from three, a dismal 24% clip.
Jeddah beckons, what’s else to do?
Infusing the team with a legitimate point guard will help address instances when the offense does not flow, something that happened regularly this February. Only the biggest of haters will not want Kiefer Ravena in the mix, but he is a seasoned internationalist who knows the FIBA game like the back of his hand.
SJ Belangel is posting a pro career-high of 14.1 points for the Daegu Kogas Pegasus in the Korean Basketball League. He also registers 4.9 assists and 1.6 steals per outing. RJ Abarrientos could also be an option. Belangel and Abarrientos were Tab Baldwin’s playmakers in a previous iteration of Gilas Pilipinas.
Cone previously mentioned that the goal is to make it to the semifinals of the FIBA Asia Cup scheduled from August 5 to 17 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, but Gilas Pilipinas does not look like a final four team right now, especially in a field that has Australia, New Zealand, Lebanon, Japan, China, Jordan, and South Korea.
There is cause for concern, but there is no reason to panic. There are at least five months to get the troops ready. Perhaps, the preparation has already started this February with the coaching staff getting a closer look at teams from the Middle East.
Cone has never been one to settle for moral victories because his goal is always to win. His coaching brilliance, unquestioned and time-tested, will once again be summoned as he restocks, re-strategizes, and retreats to the drawing board to bring Gilas Pilipinas back to its winning ways. – Rappler.com