2 months.
That's all there is left for the training of our Gilas Pilipinas national team. And, it has been bumpy. INCREDIBLY bumpy at that.
The first setback is the much publicized exclusion of the Philippines for the upcoming Jones Cup. The tournament would've been integral to the preparations of the national team for the FIBA Asia tournament, but now, they will have to find a way to find or create a tournament to prepare them come August. Some help from coach Rajko perhaps?
The second setback is actually a series of setbacks, but we can actually describe it into just one. The loss of players in the pool. It all started when the blood disorder of a certain machine gun in the pool triggered, and when a certain daredevil got into a car accident. Then, the top perimeter defender of the pool got injured , and that lessens his chances to get into the 12 man team. Then again, a certain beast who has long been considered by Coach Chot for the actual team and not just the pool, has to go through surgery. Oh, the most recent Finals MVP has to go through surgery too, just like The Beast.
ANO PA BA?
Seriously, WHAT ELSE? What else does Gilas have to go through? No Jones Cup, no Kelly and Jared, possibly no Ryan, no Sonny and now every fan's dream of seeing Calvin Abueva pissing Yi Jianlian and Hamed Haddadi have been crushed. What else really? Oh, and to add insult to injury, a certain 7 footer might possibly miss the trip to Lithuanian this Sunday. Let's just hope MVP does something about it.
That's all there is left for the training of our Gilas Pilipinas national team. And, it has been bumpy. INCREDIBLY bumpy at that.
The first setback is the much publicized exclusion of the Philippines for the upcoming Jones Cup. The tournament would've been integral to the preparations of the national team for the FIBA Asia tournament, but now, they will have to find a way to find or create a tournament to prepare them come August. Some help from coach Rajko perhaps?
The second setback is actually a series of setbacks, but we can actually describe it into just one. The loss of players in the pool. It all started when the blood disorder of a certain machine gun in the pool triggered, and when a certain daredevil got into a car accident. Then, the top perimeter defender of the pool got injured , and that lessens his chances to get into the 12 man team. Then again, a certain beast who has long been considered by Coach Chot for the actual team and not just the pool, has to go through surgery. Oh, the most recent Finals MVP has to go through surgery too, just like The Beast.
ANO PA BA?
Seriously, WHAT ELSE? What else does Gilas have to go through? No Jones Cup, no Kelly and Jared, possibly no Ryan, no Sonny and now every fan's dream of seeing Calvin Abueva pissing Yi Jianlian and Hamed Haddadi have been crushed. What else really? Oh, and to add insult to injury, a certain 7 footer might possibly miss the trip to Lithuanian this Sunday. Let's just hope MVP does something about it.
 |
| So even he might miss it. Anak ng puto. |
Now, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the pool is down to 14. (I decided not to add Sonny Thoss anymore because... eh his chances are limited) Yes, 14 and not 13. Why? Well, a certain member of the Extra Rice Incorporated has been added to the pool, and he is set to join Gilas for training in Lithuania. If only Spiderman got to join them.
The magic 14 are Marcus Douthit, Junemar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Greg Slaughter, Ranidel De Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Beau Belga, Gabe Norwood, Gary David, Jeff Chan, Larry Fonacier, Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio and Jimmy Alapag.
So, among the 14, who will probably get cut? Let's analyze who are the shoo ins, what are the needs for each position.
For the front line (the 5 and 4 positions), the locks are Marcus, Junemar and Ranidel. Marcus is an obvious choice, while Ranidel has the international experience and versatility. Junemar on the other hand is the most skilled and fundamental among the three towers (Fajardo, Slaughter and Aguilar), and despite his woes in the defensive end, his basketball IQ and overall offensive skill are top notch. Oh and he's a 6'10 250 pound monster.
Now, for my personal magic 12, I'm giving two slots for the front line. Let's see what Greg, Japeth and Beau bring to the table.
For Greg, he brings height, and defense. He won't be bringing much offense because of his limited albeit improving skill set, and he's soft. He's not the fastest of players also, thus making him a liability for the defense at times, especially against big men who have range.
For Japeth, what he brings is athleticism, shot blocking, and to some extent, versatility. He's the type of guy who's more fitted to play the 3 spot because of his quickness, speed and agility, but his lack of ball handling and abysmal jumper refuses him to do so. He can be an effective defender too, but his decision making is suspect.
Among the three, Beau is the most interesting pick. He may be the smallest among the three big men, but he's definitely the most skilled. His jumper is killer, and that pump fake... well, you should watch this video. Next, the physicality that he brings to the table. Marc and Ranidel may both be physical, but the physical that Beau brings is different. It's the type of physical that will piss opponents off, and make team mates thank God that he's their team mate. Even though he has all that, he's still too small to play a big man position, and, he'll be a liability in the defensive end because of his poor speed.
So, who are my two picks? I say Japeth and Beau. Why them? Well...
Greg's possibly missing the Lithuanian trip. You may argue that Greg has international experience, but thing is... his skill set and intangibles can be improved upon if he could join the trip. He would get used to defending big men who can play the mid range game, and big men who are mobile. Sadly, he's missing the trip in favor of a developmental league title. Oh well.
Japeth's game will improve after the trip. Why? First, for sure, his jump shot will somewhat be developed. He is training after all with Europeans, who are notorious for having big men who can shoot all the way from the three point line (*ahem* Dirk *ahem*). He will definitely be more disciplined after grinding it out with the Europeans.
For Beau, his physicality is too hard to ignore. He will be integral in boxing out opponents. He doesn't have to rebound the ball, he just has to help Marcus and Junemar in rebounding by boxing out the big men of the opposing teams. I think there can be times that Ranidel can play the 3, thus stretching the floor more for Gilas, and for Beau to shoot those long range shots.
Next, the back court, and we'll include the 3 position here as well.
Now, I'll no longer talk about the 2 spot since Gary, Jeff and Larry are all locks for the team since they will bring the outside shooting for the Gilas five. For the 3 spot, Gabe because of his versatility, and the height that he will bring in the 3 position. Oh, and he can play the 1 spot at times as well. Marc on the other hand, is undoubtedly a lock because of his defensive presence and the hustle that he brings to the team. So don't be shocked if he gets to shut down Fadi El Khatib and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami come August. For the point, Jayson is the only spot.
So... it leaves us with two. :LA Tenorio and Jimmy Alapag.
Now, both players practically bring the same thing to the table. Both are clutch, both are great leaders, and for sure, both are reliable court generals.
LA though, is a more reliable pick and roll weapon, giving the DDO a different dimension for it's offense. He has also created a solid pairing with Marcus, thus showing chemistry between the two. His outside shooting is quite suspect though.
Jimmy on the other hand, is definitely a better shooter compared to LA. He can LITERALLY shoot any where. It's crazy really. He's around 5'8, yet he can shoot all the way from Taft Avenue. He may be a good shooter though, but he's old. No offense, but his age will really be a factor.
So, who do I choose? Well, I'll take my chances with LA. First of all, I think Gary, Jeff and Larry can cover the loss of perimeter shots from Jimmy. Second, as I said, LA gives the DDO a new dimension with his pick and roll play with Marcus Douthit. This will make opponents think twice about their defensive sets against Gilas. Last, Tenorio's play making will be key for Gilas. He really doesn't have to score, he just has to set up the play. Gilas needs a play maker like LA, since Castro is more of a points guard, although he can set up plays too.
So... the line up should look like this...
Gilas Pilipinas 12 Man Pool Prediction:
C: Fajardo
PF: Douthit/De Ocampo/Aguilar/Belga
SF: Norwood/Pingris
SG: David/Chan/Fonacier
PG: Castro/Tenorio
Starting 5: Fajardo - Douthit - Norwood - David - Castro
Now, I have a number of ideas concerning the rotation of Gilas, but I'll just be giving two. One is the rotation Gilas could consider using against big teams such as Iran and teams that utilize their speed and outside shooting such as Japan and South Korea. First, I'll feature what I think will be the regular rotation of Gilas come August.
Regular rotation:
C - Fajardo/Douthit
PF - Douthit/De Ocampo/Aguilar/Belga
SF - Norwood/Pingris
SG - David/Chan/Fonacier
PG - Castro/Tenorio
Now, Kuya Marcus can play both the 5 and 4 positions, although his priority will be the 4 position. Fajardo will probably get only 20 minutes of floor time, so expect to see a Douthit - De Ocampo combination more. In some cases though, I can see Junemar and Japeth playing together in the front court. Beau's minutes will be limited to around 5.
For the back court, it's a bit more tricky. Gabe will probably get 25 minutes of play, while Marc will get 15 minutes. The shooting guard spot is where it gets really difficult to rotate. All three players are probably equal in terms of experience and skill, but for sure, Gary will start. I'll say Gary will get 17 minutes, then Jeff will get around 13 minutes. Larry will play around 10 minutes for Gilas. For the point guard spot, Castro and Tenorio will share and equal 20 minutes each. LA will probably play during the clutch though, but it depends on the situation.
Big man rotation of Gilas (respective order of players are as follows)
C - Fajardo/Douthit
PF - Douthit/Aguilar/Belga
SF - De Ocampo/Pingris/Norwood
SG - David/Chan/Fonacier
PG - Norwood/Castro/Tenorio
The positions that get significant changes here are the point guard and small forward positions. I was honestly consider starting Pingris, but I chose Ranidel over him. Why? Well, this gives the line up 3 long range bombers in their midst with Gabe, Gary and Ranidel doing exactly that. This will space the floor for Gilas (hoping that they can hit their shots), thus giving Marcus and Junemar more space to operate in the post.
I imagine Gilas employing a 2 - 3 zone similar to that of Alaska, where length was used in their defense of the perimeter. If Gilas' shots don't hit, I can see Marc replacing Ranidel and Castro playing the 1, while Norwood switches to the 2. This gives Gilas a decent defender in Marc, and two players who can run the fast break in Gabe and Jayson. Japeth can actually sub for Marcus if Coach Chot wants to go for a full fast breaking squad with Japeth, Jayson and Gabe leading the break. Junemar and Marcus can switch at any time. Another possible scenario for the front court is seeing a combination of Marcus and Beau in the front court. This gives Gilas a reliable banger in Belga, plus, he can space the floor EVEN MORE if he hits his mid range to three point jumpers.
Small ball rotation of Gilas (respective order of players are as follows)
C - Douthit/Fajardo
PF - Aguilar/Douthit/De Ocampo/Belga
SF - Norwood/Pingris/De Ocampo
SG - David/Castro/Chan/Fonacier
PG - Castro/Tenorio
I have to admit, I had a hard time making this line up, but I'll explain why the rotation is like this. First, I decided to start Japeth and Marcus at the front line because Japeth is a better and more athletic defender compared to Junemar. He will have to use his mobility to defend the big men of teams like Japan and Korea who can shoot. Not only can he defend the big men, but since he is fast, he can provide help defense in defending the shooters of the opposing team, and for sure his length will somewhat disturb opposing shooters.
For the 3 spot, I decided to keep Norwood for the starting position, quite simply because of his ability in the offensive end, and I'm sure he can defend it with the best of them. He may not be as quality as Marc, but we need some offensive fire power against teams such as South Korea and Japan, especially with Japeth's offensive game not being as developed as most would want it to be.
For the back court starting spots, I decided to keep Gary and Jayson, for the sake of having an ample amount of size and firepower for the team. But, I can also see Jayson and LA playing at the same time. This will be reminiscent of the pairing of Jayson and Jimmy in Talk 'N Text. In order for that pairing to be effective, LA will have to hit his mid range and three point shots, so that Jayson will have the space to drive in the lane.
This is simply some of my ideas of a possible rotation for Gilas, and I'm sure some of you (if not many of you) will disagree with my sentiments concerning the rotation, and for sure the line up. If you have any other ideas for the line up and the rotation, don't be afraid of sharing it below! I will be more than willing to debate/talk about your ideas. No matter what happens though, I just hope for the best for the national team. Para sa bayan.
#GoGilas #LabanPilipinas
So, among the 14, who will probably get cut? Let's analyze who are the shoo ins, what are the needs for each position.
For the front line (the 5 and 4 positions), the locks are Marcus, Junemar and Ranidel. Marcus is an obvious choice, while Ranidel has the international experience and versatility. Junemar on the other hand is the most skilled and fundamental among the three towers (Fajardo, Slaughter and Aguilar), and despite his woes in the defensive end, his basketball IQ and overall offensive skill are top notch. Oh and he's a 6'10 250 pound monster.
Now, for my personal magic 12, I'm giving two slots for the front line. Let's see what Greg, Japeth and Beau bring to the table.
For Greg, he brings height, and defense. He won't be bringing much offense because of his limited albeit improving skill set, and he's soft. He's not the fastest of players also, thus making him a liability for the defense at times, especially against big men who have range.
For Japeth, what he brings is athleticism, shot blocking, and to some extent, versatility. He's the type of guy who's more fitted to play the 3 spot because of his quickness, speed and agility, but his lack of ball handling and abysmal jumper refuses him to do so. He can be an effective defender too, but his decision making is suspect.
Among the three, Beau is the most interesting pick. He may be the smallest among the three big men, but he's definitely the most skilled. His jumper is killer, and that pump fake... well, you should watch this video. Next, the physicality that he brings to the table. Marc and Ranidel may both be physical, but the physical that Beau brings is different. It's the type of physical that will piss opponents off, and make team mates thank God that he's their team mate. Even though he has all that, he's still too small to play a big man position, and, he'll be a liability in the defensive end because of his poor speed.
 |
| Can Beau bring the big guns this August against the FIBA Asia giants? |
Greg's possibly missing the Lithuanian trip. You may argue that Greg has international experience, but thing is... his skill set and intangibles can be improved upon if he could join the trip. He would get used to defending big men who can play the mid range game, and big men who are mobile. Sadly, he's missing the trip in favor of a developmental league title. Oh well.
Japeth's game will improve after the trip. Why? First, for sure, his jump shot will somewhat be developed. He is training after all with Europeans, who are notorious for having big men who can shoot all the way from the three point line (*ahem* Dirk *ahem*). He will definitely be more disciplined after grinding it out with the Europeans.
For Beau, his physicality is too hard to ignore. He will be integral in boxing out opponents. He doesn't have to rebound the ball, he just has to help Marcus and Junemar in rebounding by boxing out the big men of the opposing teams. I think there can be times that Ranidel can play the 3, thus stretching the floor more for Gilas, and for Beau to shoot those long range shots.
Next, the back court, and we'll include the 3 position here as well.
Now, I'll no longer talk about the 2 spot since Gary, Jeff and Larry are all locks for the team since they will bring the outside shooting for the Gilas five. For the 3 spot, Gabe because of his versatility, and the height that he will bring in the 3 position. Oh, and he can play the 1 spot at times as well. Marc on the other hand, is undoubtedly a lock because of his defensive presence and the hustle that he brings to the team. So don't be shocked if he gets to shut down Fadi El Khatib and Samad Nikkhah Bahrami come August. For the point, Jayson is the only spot.
 |
| Can Marc slam Gilas a spot to the World Championships? |
So... it leaves us with two. :LA Tenorio and Jimmy Alapag.
Now, both players practically bring the same thing to the table. Both are clutch, both are great leaders, and for sure, both are reliable court generals.
LA though, is a more reliable pick and roll weapon, giving the DDO a different dimension for it's offense. He has also created a solid pairing with Marcus, thus showing chemistry between the two. His outside shooting is quite suspect though.
Jimmy on the other hand, is definitely a better shooter compared to LA. He can LITERALLY shoot any where. It's crazy really. He's around 5'8, yet he can shoot all the way from Taft Avenue. He may be a good shooter though, but he's old. No offense, but his age will really be a factor.
So, who do I choose? Well, I'll take my chances with LA. First of all, I think Gary, Jeff and Larry can cover the loss of perimeter shots from Jimmy. Second, as I said, LA gives the DDO a new dimension with his pick and roll play with Marcus Douthit. This will make opponents think twice about their defensive sets against Gilas. Last, Tenorio's play making will be key for Gilas. He really doesn't have to score, he just has to set up the play. Gilas needs a play maker like LA, since Castro is more of a points guard, although he can set up plays too.
So... the line up should look like this...
Gilas Pilipinas 12 Man Pool Prediction:
C: Fajardo
PF: Douthit/De Ocampo/Aguilar/Belga
SF: Norwood/Pingris
SG: David/Chan/Fonacier
PG: Castro/Tenorio
Starting 5: Fajardo - Douthit - Norwood - David - Castro
Now, I have a number of ideas concerning the rotation of Gilas, but I'll just be giving two. One is the rotation Gilas could consider using against big teams such as Iran and teams that utilize their speed and outside shooting such as Japan and South Korea. First, I'll feature what I think will be the regular rotation of Gilas come August.
Regular rotation:
C - Fajardo/Douthit
PF - Douthit/De Ocampo/Aguilar/Belga
SF - Norwood/Pingris
SG - David/Chan/Fonacier
PG - Castro/Tenorio
Now, Kuya Marcus can play both the 5 and 4 positions, although his priority will be the 4 position. Fajardo will probably get only 20 minutes of floor time, so expect to see a Douthit - De Ocampo combination more. In some cases though, I can see Junemar and Japeth playing together in the front court. Beau's minutes will be limited to around 5.
For the back court, it's a bit more tricky. Gabe will probably get 25 minutes of play, while Marc will get 15 minutes. The shooting guard spot is where it gets really difficult to rotate. All three players are probably equal in terms of experience and skill, but for sure, Gary will start. I'll say Gary will get 17 minutes, then Jeff will get around 13 minutes. Larry will play around 10 minutes for Gilas. For the point guard spot, Castro and Tenorio will share and equal 20 minutes each. LA will probably play during the clutch though, but it depends on the situation.
Big man rotation of Gilas (respective order of players are as follows)
C - Fajardo/Douthit
PF - Douthit/Aguilar/Belga
SF - De Ocampo/Pingris/Norwood
SG - David/Chan/Fonacier
PG - Norwood/Castro/Tenorio
The positions that get significant changes here are the point guard and small forward positions. I was honestly consider starting Pingris, but I chose Ranidel over him. Why? Well, this gives the line up 3 long range bombers in their midst with Gabe, Gary and Ranidel doing exactly that. This will space the floor for Gilas (hoping that they can hit their shots), thus giving Marcus and Junemar more space to operate in the post.
I imagine Gilas employing a 2 - 3 zone similar to that of Alaska, where length was used in their defense of the perimeter. If Gilas' shots don't hit, I can see Marc replacing Ranidel and Castro playing the 1, while Norwood switches to the 2. This gives Gilas a decent defender in Marc, and two players who can run the fast break in Gabe and Jayson. Japeth can actually sub for Marcus if Coach Chot wants to go for a full fast breaking squad with Japeth, Jayson and Gabe leading the break. Junemar and Marcus can switch at any time. Another possible scenario for the front court is seeing a combination of Marcus and Beau in the front court. This gives Gilas a reliable banger in Belga, plus, he can space the floor EVEN MORE if he hits his mid range to three point jumpers.
Small ball rotation of Gilas (respective order of players are as follows)
C - Douthit/Fajardo
PF - Aguilar/Douthit/De Ocampo/Belga
SF - Norwood/Pingris/De Ocampo
SG - David/Castro/Chan/Fonacier
PG - Castro/Tenorio
I have to admit, I had a hard time making this line up, but I'll explain why the rotation is like this. First, I decided to start Japeth and Marcus at the front line because Japeth is a better and more athletic defender compared to Junemar. He will have to use his mobility to defend the big men of teams like Japan and Korea who can shoot. Not only can he defend the big men, but since he is fast, he can provide help defense in defending the shooters of the opposing team, and for sure his length will somewhat disturb opposing shooters.
 |
| Can Japeth bring his shot blocking prowess to the FIBA Asia Championships? |
For the 3 spot, I decided to keep Norwood for the starting position, quite simply because of his ability in the offensive end, and I'm sure he can defend it with the best of them. He may not be as quality as Marc, but we need some offensive fire power against teams such as South Korea and Japan, especially with Japeth's offensive game not being as developed as most would want it to be.
For the back court starting spots, I decided to keep Gary and Jayson, for the sake of having an ample amount of size and firepower for the team. But, I can also see Jayson and LA playing at the same time. This will be reminiscent of the pairing of Jayson and Jimmy in Talk 'N Text. In order for that pairing to be effective, LA will have to hit his mid range and three point shots, so that Jayson will have the space to drive in the lane.
This is simply some of my ideas of a possible rotation for Gilas, and I'm sure some of you (if not many of you) will disagree with my sentiments concerning the rotation, and for sure the line up. If you have any other ideas for the line up and the rotation, don't be afraid of sharing it below! I will be more than willing to debate/talk about your ideas. No matter what happens though, I just hope for the best for the national team. Para sa bayan.
#GoGilas #LabanPilipinas
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