Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[IPC2]

At first I was really confused why just 12 players.. why not at least 15 players so that we could have options, whether because of injuries or bad plays or fit.. but now I get it and it is really the genius of Tim Cone... remember this is a 4 year journey.. it is not just a tournament by tournament thing.. this is a 4 YEAR THING let me emphasize that...

with only 12 players (of course there can be exemptions whether injury or really bad fit), they will learn to like each other and play with each other every single tournament.. and with that way, each player can learn and know what to do and improve on in FIBA play because they will have the opportunity to play again.. eh if we have a pool of players tapos palit ng palit every single tournament, how will you apply what you learned if next tournament you will be replaced dba? in this way, continuity talaga.. they will learn to be a team for 4 years.. pagdating ng 2027 World Cup team na team na sila of course with a much better naturalized player..

BUT, I think SBP needs to develop another team.. a much younger team with just a sprinkle or splash of veterans.. this will be the definitive TEAM B for the other tournaments of importance as well e.g. SEA Games, Jones Cup, heck even Asian Games.. this will make sure these Team B players will have the proper exposure to FIBA Play and this is where TEAM A will get the replacement if NEEDED..

iba pa ang Under 19, 17, etc age group... ibang handler and team yan... ung Team B will be Seniors pa ren just Team B..

mean core is the 12 guys the team will build into..they will plug ins but definitely just role or plugin players..

The team B will be led by Tamayo Quiambao, Kouame and the final cuts (amos). Tim already visioned for Kai to be not available all the time..

​We will need the replacements, though. paolylo has a point in the aging players, as mentioned in his table here:



I anticipate that JB, June Mar, and Newsome will retire next year, so we will have to find replacements for them first.

 

[reamily2]

​We will need the replacements, though. paolylo has a point in the aging players, as mentioned in his table here:



I anticipate that JB, June Mar, and Newsome will retire next year, so we will have to find replacements for them first.

big man rotation is stacked aleady..and even JB replacement will eat big minutes

We will see by end 0f 2025..I still see Thompson being replaced first than newsome.. malonzo... you know..

The age of the three guys you mentioned makes it easier for them to be replaced by 3 new guys or maybe just 2 role players (as naturalized player will always be a centerpiece)

 

[IPC2]

Balikan ko lang 'to, I'm not done with you.



FFS, just so you know... we're back on a regular calendar when events like the Olympics (after the OQT, SBP won't care about it unless Gilas pulls off a miracle, but it's this late July), SEA Games (Dec 2025), and Asian Games (Sept 2026) won't be postponed a year and are back to coincide with the the FIBA calendar (from Feb this year to the end of the FIBA World Cup in mid-Sept 2027 since the WC starts Aug 2027) with every other league where a Gilas core member plays. Fortunately, the hope is that Gilas still gets all the FIBA ineligibles to mix a few more rounds of one-week trainings for the SEA Games and Asian Games (kilala mo ba mga tinutukoy ko?) Obviously I know it's Day 2 and we're technically in the first month, but do you even know what the hell does the word CORE mean? O pati yan, tatagalugin ko pa sa'yo?

	AGE FEB '24	AGE BY DEC '25	AGE BY SEPT '26	AGE BY AUG '27
AGUILAR	37	38	39	40
BROWNLEE	35	37	38	39
FAJARDO	34	36	36	37
NEWSOME	33	35	35	37
THOMPSON	30	32	33	34
PEREZ	30	32	32	33
OFTANA	28	29	30	31
MALONZO	27	29	29	30
RAMOS	25	27	28	28
EDU	24	25	26	27
TAMAYO	23	24	25	26
QUIAMBAO	22	24	25	26
SOTTO	21	23	24	25

​
This is a very good team now because that's THE CORE in FEB '24 that comprises of AN ENTIRE TEAM for the OQT. This first window alone... no Edu, no JMF, no Malonzo for 1 game... and they only brought in Japeth. Based on the two games, they're a JB and Kai injury-away from looking like mediocre team. They don't have another world class shot creator not named Jordan Clarkson and until Edu or JMF are 100% (they never are), they don't have another big who can protect the rim and score inside. That's just in 2024 and maybe until the actual FIBA Asia Cup in August 2025. How about World Cup Qualifying that will definitely take place in between all those rows? Hindi mo pa rin ba gets? The way the core is setup, they will not wait for new players to be plugged-in unless they play for Ginebra or get invited by Tim Cone. This is and will be our national team in 3 and a half years whether we like it or not.

Hindi ko pinapangunahan ang team, but you have to be as stupid as a 47-year old Jaworksi subbing himself in to guard John Best then get dunked the fuck on to be unable to see where this team is headed when the SBP insisted that the CORE OF THE TEAM IS AN ENTIRE TEAM. They're already giving every coach in Asia and even the world at least 3 years worth of data to scout the Philippines as well. I'm already expecting another PBA Special Gilas Draft complete with Special Conference that will surely favor the usual PBA teams once the B.League players decide to come back home when the SBP finds itself unable to keep the core together.

I'll have to agree with the point that JB and Kai are keystones to the core, I'd like to add AJ to that too. We lose Kai, we lose a center who can catch lobs, score inside, and deter shots. We lose AJ, we lose a versatile defensive anchor. We lose JB, we lose a go-to guy and a defensive anchor. We lose two or maybe even one of them, the system falls apart on one end or the other. Likely that we'll lose JB to retirement early (I just think, a).

We'll need a backup center, a go-to guy, and a backup NP that can both score and help out defensively (can fill the role of backup defensive anchor and/or center and/or go-to guy), just so we can mitigate the impact of the loss of JB or AJ or even Kai without having to unretire Japeth. That's especially true since Japeth, JB, and June Mar are old.
​
In addition to the previously-mentioned Japeth, JB, and June Mar, Newsome will hit 34 this July, and will be 35 by next year's Asia Cup. We will need a succession plan for these guys mentioned. Reserve pool, kamo.

 

[ARMIR2]

I'll have to agree with the point that JB and Kai are keystones to the core, I'd like to add AJ to that too. We lose Kai, we lose a center who can catch lobs, score inside, and deter shots. We lose AJ, we lose a versatile defensive anchor. We lose JB, we lose a go-to guy and a defensive anchor. We lose two or maybe even one of them, the system falls apart on one end or the other. Likely that we'll lose JB to retirement early (I just think, a).

We'll need a backup center, a go-to guy, and a backup NP that can both score and help out defensively (can fill the role of backup defensive anchor and/or center and/or go-to guy), just so we can mitigate the impact of the loss of JB or AJ or even Kai without having to unretire Japeth. That's especially true since Japeth, JB, and June Mar are old.
​
In addition to the previously-mentioned Japeth, JB, and June Mar, Newsome will hit 34 this July, and will be 35 by next year's Asia Cup. We will need a succession plan for these guys mentioned. Reserve pool, kamo.

Gilas already have a backup center,that can both and defend at the same time,the underrated Ange Kouame,he proved at the last Asian Games,in his games in Europe/France he's showing versatility at both ends of the court even with against a higher skilled league than any of the locals or Filfors.

 

[Rds2]

Gilas already have a backup center,that can both and defend at the same time,the underrated Ange Kouame,he proved at the last Asian Games,in his games in Europe/France he's showing versatility at both ends of the court even with against a higher skilled league than any of the locals or Filfors.

We will see against better comp if a Kai, JB frontline is good enough defensively. Kai was abused by Al Dwairi before. We’ll see if he has improved against better comp. If Kai and JB can’t do it then SMC/SBP have to seriously consider Kouame as NP.

 

[ccharmed2]

Kouame is more than good enough for the nt at the asian level championships. He also has ready np papers. He is both a decent center and power forward partner, but not a stand-alone shot-creator great.

What is absent factually are explosive take-charge local guys, of which brownlee and clarkson are the archetypes or basic models.

At the center position, kai can be that explosive attacker when hostile interior or zone defense is tough. He has the size, talent and aggressiveness for this, but still lacks the serious muscles to reliably power his way through. He definitely can go the towns or embid route, if he remains immersed in at least a tough aussie or japanese league.

At the scoring guard position, we have abando, who has enough athleticism and talent to be at least a very reliable poor man's michael jordan. Then you have nba talents like clarkson and green to make the combo guard positions very interesting for building that essential confidence in winning chances.

And then, there are the huge fatal gaps in forward positions. No tatum, and no doncic wannabes. The aging brownlee is the only talent here. So, if clarkson or green are not available, you need a scoring forward beast np at the very least.

The pinoy nt needs at least 3 players in 3 different positions who can go through world-class defenses. Forwards like tamayo, oftana or edu are decent role players. But to go beyond asian credentials, you need a forward with indecent preternatural abilities.

 

[Metta2]

Is Clarkson already as good as retired for Gilas?

For the direction and system that CTC is developing, a once-and-a-while short-term addition like JC does not fit. Not to mention, it takes away JB or whoever it is that trains with Gilas long-term.

 

[Sikatrix2]

Is Clarkson already as good as retired for Gilas?

For the direction and system that CTC is developing, a once-and-a-while short-term addition like JC does not fit. Not to mention, it takes away JB or whoever it is that trains with Gilas long-term.

He cost a lot but I wouldn't count him out. A JB injury and he is back in the mix I would think.

 

[ccharmed2]

Clarkson and green are excellent plugins even with the correctly done long-term pool of cone. It is obvious that gilas already can come up with a very capable 9-10 man crew and replacements for asian wars

Adding two external players should be for instant boosting purposes. Cone needs at least one nba-grade guard and forward, if he wants his team to break into the top20 group.

 

[IPC2]

Is Clarkson already as good as retired for Gilas?

For the direction and system that CTC is developing, a once-and-a-while short-term addition like JC does not fit. Not to mention, it takes away JB or whoever it is that trains with Gilas long-term.

He cost a lot but I wouldn't count him out. A JB injury and he is back in the mix I would think.

With JC, though, we will have to count on AJ's health and the improvement of Kai and Carl on defense. Right now, AJ's our only defensive big, and his health record isn't the best.

JB fits us well now, not just because of his takeover ability and team play, but also his ability to help the defense out.​

 

[Metta2]

With JC, though, we will have to count on AJ's health and the improvement of Kai and Carl on defense. Right now, AJ's our only defensive big, and his health record isn't the best.

JB fits us well now, not just because of his takeover ability and team play, but also his ability to help the defense out.​

If JC is still in the picture, I would love for him to get immersed in a triangle offense soon. In the world cup, his work load was so much that he kept fading in the end games.

With the triangle, everyone shares the load and sets up each other so he can get to his spots easier. He's our perfect fit for that MJ/Kobe role. But, it takes very long to master (so many variations). He needs reps on it asap, that way he can still be a plug-and-play player.

If he gets inserted at the last minute again, without being knowledgeable with that system, then all the long-term work as a team is useless.

 

[ccharmed2]

If JC is still in the picture, I would love for him to get immersed in a triangle offense soon. In the world cup, his work load was so much that he kept fading in the end games.

With the triangle, everyone shares the load and sets up each other so he can get to his spots easier. He's our perfect fit for that MJ/Kobe role. But, it takes very long to master (so many variations). He needs reps on it asap, that way he can still be a plug-and-play player.

If he gets inserted at the last minute again, without being knowledgeable with that system, then all the long-term work as a team is useless.

Yes, clarkson was fagged out by overloading through stupid coaching. The problem with.st*pid pinoy coaches is that they cannot stop being st*pid. Even clarkson should not have played much over 20 minutes in the high-intensity fiba nt wars.

 

[reamily2]

Jordan clarkson can give tim cone a new dimension pg version of duremdes or jalen green like bong alavarez 2.0 or his new iskati in gilas offense.. if somehow fiba miraculously fixed their eligibility..pero before this questions be answefed we need to make noise in oqt..not the 2021 oqt vibes since we were exposwd badly by dominican republic..

 

[ARMIR2]

We will see against better comp if a Kai, JB frontline is good enough defensively. Kai was abused by Al Dwairi before. We’ll see if he has improved against better comp. If Kai and JB can’t do it then SMC/SBP have to seriously consider Kouame as NP.

The OQT will be the barometer,if for some reason Fajardo can't go,then the natural 4 AJ if healthy is going to play small 5,that would leave Kai with JB and JB has to really go out of his way to protect that defensive liability,he will be tired and will fade in the end,but then again if they keep losing he should be able to withstand the hate coming for him.The fans will not understand why he fade just like JC,didn't understand the overuse at both ends of the court.To be really safe they gotta insert Balti there somehow,it will keep JB from playing defense too hard,and not fade towards the end.

 

[ccharmed2]

And one must never underestimate the contribution of the huge humiliation potential of the kaiju in nt games.

Even the best asian guards know that the kaiju can swat their shots to the bleacher section, for their eternal and unavoidable humiliation in youtube videos. Then, those brutal in-your-face dunkathons will finish off the opposing centers, for internet posterity again. Kai is scarier than the much slower and lower jumping yao ming.

Other than kai, only abando can offer shocking floor humiliation with gay abandon.

And that is actually the good news. We just need local players to, you know, step up and go the kamehame wave and energy evolution of son gokou. You get three or more kais and abandos, and the aussie and other high-ranking nts will have a very tough game. I like fajardo, tamayo and oftana -- if they do a berserking son gokou in nt games. They play too politely like ramos.

I actually learned this mentality lesson first in -- chess games. The results are very different if you intend a crushing victory, or play for a quiet win or draw. Indeed, jordan was well known for hating to lose, and crushing wannabe "jordan stoppers".

 

[carmelo72]

Kouame is more than good enough for the nt at the asian level championships. He also has ready np papers. He is both a decent center and power forward partner, but not a stand-alone shot-creator great.

What is absent factually are explosive take-charge local guys, of which brownlee and clarkson are the archetypes or basic models.

At the center position, kai can be that explosive attacker when hostile interior or zone defense is tough. He has the size, talent and aggressiveness for this, but still lacks the serious muscles to reliably power his way through. He definitely can go the towns or embid route, if he remains immersed in at least a tough aussie or japanese league.

At the scoring guard position, we have abando, who has enough athleticism and talent to be at least a very reliable poor man's michael jordan. Then you have nba talents like clarkson and green to make the combo guard positions very interesting for building that essential confidence in winning chances.

And then, there are the huge fatal gaps in forward positions. No tatum, and no doncic wannabes. The aging brownlee is the only talent here. So, if clarkson or green are not available, you need a scoring forward beast np at the very least.

The pinoy nt needs at least 3 players in 3 different positions who can go through world-class defenses. Forwards like tamayo, oftana or edu are decent role players. But to go beyond asian credentials, you need a forward with indecent preternatural abilities.

Forwards like BGR, Lucero and Balunggay plus an
active big in Philipps would've been nice

 

[ARMIR2]

As of now,they should be looking to at least 2 or 3 candidates to replace Malonzo.

 

[IPC2]

As of now,they should be looking to at least 2 or 3 candidates to replace Malonzo.

If we need a wing, Navarro and maybe Lopez and Harris are there.

If we need a four, why not Alex Konov? He's young, but a good defender at 3/4 already, as he showed in the U18 two years ago.

 

[Giannis34GOD2]

Is Clarkson already as good as retired for Gilas?

For the direction and system that CTC is developing, a once-and-a-while short-term addition like JC does not fit. Not to mention, it takes away JB or whoever it is that trains with Gilas long-term.

With naturalization process here are too long to process, JC will be probably the back up plan, if JB will be washed, unavailable, injured or retired by 2027… Many says JB is better fit than JC but we didn’t see how will JC fit under CTC.. I’m sure he will be a monster performer under triangle.. Think of Kobe or Jordan under Phil Jackson, JC will be like that under CTC led Gilas team…

 

[Giannis34GOD2]

Jordan clarkson can give tim cone a new dimension pg version of duremdes or jalen green like bong alavarez 2.0 or his new iskati in gilas offense.. if somehow fiba miraculously fixed their eligibility..pero before this questions be answefed we need to make noise in oqt..not the 2021 oqt vibes since we were exposwd badly by dominican republic..

Or Kobe Bryant usage under CTC, just like him under coach Phil Jackson… Many just know JC is just a scorer in the NBA… but no, he can play defense, can play off the ball and involve his teammates… he literally save Chot’s ass in the World Cup… if not for his greatness, we will be the weakest team last year’s World Cup because Chot stubbornness…