Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[IPC2]

I think having at least a decent defense is key for us to be competitive. I think we need a good paint protector like Douthit, Ange, Kai, and AJ to help us be decent defensively.

Unless we have the personnel to be able to play at least decent defense without a good paint protector, we need a good paint protector. Outside of Kai, AJ, and Japeth as of now, our best bet for that is an NP or an ineligible.

 

[JAMSKIE2]

Any official news on FIBA's decision on JB's testing positive for weed? Some vloggers saying that he's facing a 2-year suspension.

I can't understand why it's taking an eternity for FIBA to decide on the gravity of penalty it is going to give JB.
In the same way it's taking a billion years for FIBA to decide on QMB's eligiblity. I think its almost 2 months now since SBP submittted to FIBA pertinent documents that would aim to convince FIBA to declare QMB as a Pinoy local player.

 

[JAMSKIE2]

I think having at least a decent defense is key for us to be competitive. I think we need a good paint protector like Douthit, Ange, Kai, and AJ to help us be decent defensively.

Unless we have the personnel to be able to play at least decent defense without a good paint protector, we need a good paint protector. Outside of Kai, AJ, and Japeth as of now, our best bet for that is an NP or an ineligible.

There's absolutely no question on the importance of defense. Problem is, you will need a good preparation to really develop good team defense. I don't think a 9-day preparation period would cut it, especially if most (if not all) of the other teams will get to prepare for 4 to 6 weeks before the Asia Cup.

I say if we won't have Justin Brownlee & QMB for the Asia Cup, & we will get to prepare for only 9 days, wag na tayo mag expect nang mabuting kahihinatnan from our team(How I hate to say this).

Well, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[IPC2]

As to shooting pala, here are our percentages from 3 in past FIBA Asia Cups:

2013 FIBA Asia Championship: 85-234 (36.3%)
2015 FIBA Asia Championship: 82-234 (35%)
2017 FIBA Asia Cup: 66-167 (39.5%)
2022 FIBA Asia Cup: 33.6% (33.6%)

So it seems that good shooting also played a role in our silvers in 2013 and 2015, apart from good defense.

 

[sroth38392]

As to shooting pala, here are our percentages from 3 in past FIBA Asia Cups:

2013 FIBA Asia Championship: 85-234 (36.3%)
2015 FIBA Asia Championship: 82-234 (35%)
2017 FIBA Asia Cup: 66-167 (39.5%)
2022 FIBA Asia Cup: 33.6% (33.6%)

So it seems that good shooting also played a role in our silvers in 2013 and 2015, apart from good defense.

If Cone is too stubborn to add players, then he can at least improve our outside shooting. Everyone in the current squad can hit outside shots but we don't have a reliable shooter outside JB.

I rewatched the Doha Invitationals and 3rd Window. Outside shooting was the difference maker.

 

[IPC2]

If Cone is too stubborn to add players, then he can at least improve our outside shooting. Everyone in the current squad can hit outside shots but we don't have a reliable shooter outside JB.

I rewatched the Doha Invitationals and 3rd Window. Outside shooting was the difference maker.

We need to involve Carl and Quiambao more, and hope Dwight, Oftana, and Malonzo shoot better.

We need to improve our perimeter defense too. We were bad at perimeter defense in the past 2 windows. NZ shot 18-35 (51.4%) from 3 in the November 2024 window. Taiwan shot 15-43 (34.9%) and NZ shot 13-33 (39.4%) in the February 2025 window. We can't keep giving up 3-point percentages that high.

 

[JAMSKIE2]

sroth3839
IPC

I think it doesn't speak well of your team that your naturalized player who is your go-to-guy of the team (Justin Brownlee) is also your No. 1 three-point shooter. This would only mean that your locals aren't shooting well from long range.

Just look at our 3 guards in the team - Iskati, CJ Perez & Newsome, all of which have suspect 3-point shooting. Good thing that Dwight Dwight shoots well from 3-pt range. Calvin Oftana hasn't carried over his PBA 3-pt. shooting to the FIBA game.

If there's any local player in the current Gilas that I feel could be another 3-pt shooter prospect, that could be KQ but he's not getting enough minutes from coach Tim as the latter is relying on too much on his more experienced players (as usual). I'm thinking that if only KQ starts to shoot the way he did in last year's Dubai International tournament with the Strong Group Athletic team, then coach Tim adds a Jordan Heading to the team, I think Gilas will have enough long range firepower. I feel KQ can be an effective catch-and-shoot 3-point shooter which was his role with the SGA team in the Dubai tournament last year. But KQ needs enough playing time & opportunities to show his mettle.

Brownlee's good 3-pt shooting somewhat conceals our team's weakness in long-range shooting.

 

[zairex2]

We need to involve Carl and Quiambao more, and hope Dwight, Oftana, and Malonzo shoot better.

We need to improve our perimeter defense too. We were bad at perimeter defense in the past 2 windows. NZ shot 18-35 (51.4%) from 3 in the November 2024 window. Taiwan shot 15-43 (34.9%) and NZ shot 13-33 (39.4%) in the February 2025 window. We can't keep giving up 3-point percentages that high.

I don't think NZ will be shooting 50% in 3s, that is just one in a million chance. Even against worst Taiwan team in the first window, they just shoot 35%. I think that is the norm of NZ, a 35% shooting team.

 

[Stevy2]

I don't think NZ will be shooting 50% in 3s, that is just one in a million chance. Even against worst Taiwan team in the first window, they just shoot 35%. I think that is the norm of NZ, a 35% shooting team.

Agree. In that game, NZ hit some wild shots, especially by Webster, making the score look closer than it really was. If it was 35%, it should have been 93-71 instead of 93-89. Anyways, I trust Coach Tim to maximize what we can do in August. Hopefully some good news too from SBP regarding our requests on QMB, Kouame, etc. Also, some clarity with JB's status.

 

[IPC2]

I don't think NZ will be shooting 50% in 3s, that is just one in a million chance. Even against worst Taiwan team in the first window, they just shoot 35%. I think that is the norm of NZ, a 35% shooting team.

Agree. In that game, NZ hit some wild shots, especially by Webster, making the score look closer than it really was. If it was 35%, it should have been 93-71 instead of 93-89. Anyways, I trust Coach Tim to maximize what we can do in August. Hopefully some good news too from SBP regarding our requests on QMB, Kouame, etc. Also, some clarity with JB's status.

I think the concern on perimeter defense is not just NZ shooting 51.4% from 3 in the November 2024 window.

It's more the fact that we also allowed Taiwan to shoot 34.9% and NZ to shoot 39.4% from 3 in the February 2025 window. If we didn't allow those percentages in that window, maybe that 51.4% from NZ would be just a blip in our perimeter defense.

 

[IPC2]

CTC is already 67, I think this is his last run. Then it will be a question of continuity(triangle) vs something new altogether. Personally, I think we should move on from the triangle past Tim Cone and hard reset once he is done.

Agree on the reset. Build around Kai, AJ, Dwight, Carl, Quiambao, and whoever the next NP is.

We should keep the taller lineups, though, and make them versatile. Get versatile and switchable guys like Dwight, Navarro, Tab era-Balti, and other defenders like, say, Oftana, Gabe. Emphasis on defense as well.

 

[sroth38392]

Agree on the reset. Build around Kai, AJ, Dwight, Carl, Quiambao, and whoever the next NP is.

We should keep the taller lineups, though, and make them versatile. Get versatile and switchable guys like Dwight, Navarro, Tab era-Balti, and other defenders like, say, Oftana, Gabe. Emphasis on defense as well.

The issue is with Chua and the PBA. Nag mamarunong masyado at pinipilit gawing PBA players as the lead.

There’s no chance they will agree to a foreign coach outside their umbrella. Just look how much trouble we had forming teams with Tab, Nenad, and Dickel.

Top Foreign coaches would love to handle our team but idiots like Panlilio and Chua are in charge of our program.

 

[IPC2]

Or pba doesnt adjust its schedule to fiba asia cup tournament. Kbl and japan guys will be free from june onwards meanwhile pba still ongoing.

They scheduled gamedays on Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Back to 4 gamedays a week, from 6.

Coach Tim said that the PBA ends on July 27. The FIBA Asia Cup starts on August 5. Isang linggo lang mahigit ang pagitan (Just barely over a week in between).

Honestly, it's just that the PBA has irreplaceable players like Newsome (elite perimeter defender at 2/1), June Mar (inside presence on offense, rebounding), Japeth (rim protection, bigman depth) and even guys outside the pool like Navarro (wing defense, secondary handler). That's why they're still a necessary source of talent.

 

[JAMSKIE2]

Honestly, it's just that the PBA has irreplaceable players like Newsome (elite perimeter defender at 2/1), June Mar (inside presence on offense, rebounding), Japeth (rim protection, bigman depth) and even guys outside the pool like Navarro (wing defense, secondary handler). That's why they're still a necessary source of talent.

Makes me think, what if majority of the current Gilas players are from the B-league & KBL? What if guys like Rayray Parks, Kiefer, Matt Wright, SJ Belangel, Migs Oczon, Justin Gutang, join Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos & KQ at Gilas instead of those PBA players? While most of these non-PBA players aren't as good as those PBA Gilas players, their availability for Gilas during the months of mid-June, July, August & early September (something which PBA don't have the luxury) could make a huge difference.

Imagine a Gilas team which can train & play international tournaments like the Jones Cup for at least 4 to 6 weeks during the months of July, August & early September. That is something Gilas cannot do if majority of its players are playing in the PBA. No need to elaborate, everybody here knows what I'm implying.

Imagine Gilas being able to hold training camp & play international tourneys for 4 to 6 weeks on a yearly basis becoz all its players play in pro leagues whose calendar are synchronized with FIBA calendar. Again this something Gilas cannot do if majority of its players play in the shitty PBA.

 

[ja.he2]

Makes me think, what if majority of the current Gilas players are from the B-league & KBL? What if guys like Rayray Parks, Kiefer, Matt Wright, SJ Belangel, Migs Oczon, Justin Gutang, join Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Carl Tamayo, Dwight Ramos & KQ at Gilas instead of those PBA players? While most of these non-PBA players aren't as good as those PBA Gilas players, their availability for Gilas during the months of mid-June, July, August & early September (something which PBA don't have the luxury) could make a huge difference.

Imagine a Gilas team which can train & play international tournaments like the Jones Cup for at least 4 to 6 weeks during the months of July, August & early September. That is something Gilas cannot do if majority of its players are playing in the PBA. No need to elaborate, everybody here knows what I'm implying.

Imagine Gilas being able to hold training camp & play international tourneys for 4 to 6 weeks on a yearly basis becoz all its players play in pro leagues whose calendar are synchronized with FIBA calendar. Again this something Gilas cannot do if majority of its players play in the shitty PBA.

Who are those better PBA wingmen than Parks, Wright and Dwight?

Who are those better PBA bigmen than Kai and AJ?

Who are those better PBA forward than Carl?

I think that Justin Gutang should have been a good role player than most of his counterparts in the PBA, tbh. I see SJ to be atleast a starter in the league.

What makes these PBA players better than most of our B.League and KBL players? Our peeps in the Korea and Japan have been playing 54-60 elimination games plus playoff games every season playing against imports night in, night out.

 

[IPC2]

Who are those better PBA wingmen than Parks, Wright and Dwight?

Who are those better PBA bigmen than Kai and AJ?

Who are those better PBA forward than Carl?

I think that Justin Gutang should have been a good role player than most of his counterparts in the PBA, tbh. I see SJ to be atleast a starter in the league.

What makes these PBA players better than most of our B.League and KBL players? Our peeps in the Korea and Japan have been 54-60 elimination games plus playoff games playing against imports night in, night out.

I think the question is, who among the PBA players can or cannot be replaced with a counterpart from outside the PBA in terms of role, position, and impact?

 

[JAMSKIE2]

Who are those better PBA wingmen than Parks, Wright and Dwight?

Who are those better PBA bigmen than Kai and AJ?

Who are those better PBA forward than Carl?

I think that Justin Gutang should have been a good role player than most of his counterparts in the PBA, tbh. I see SJ to be atleast a starter in the league.

What makes these PBA players better than most of our B.League and KBL players? Our peeps in the Korea and Japan have been 54-60 elimination games plus playoff games playing against imports night in, night out.

Let me make this clear bro, I'm referring to B-league & KBL Pinoy players who are not members of current Gilas team therefore Kai, AJ Edu, Dwight Ramos, KQ & Tamayo should not be part of the comparison. I'm just referring to Belangel, Oczon, Gutang, Wright, Parks, Kiefer.

So here's my take:
I feel there's no one among these non-PBA players can replicate a Chris Newsome as a good defensive wing. While Oftana has struggled in his shooting in the FIBA game, I feel no one among these non-PBA players can defend better than Oftana. While Oftana's defense isn't in the level of a Gabe Norwood, I think Oftana's defense is decent enough & none among the non-PBA Gilas material players can duplicate what Oftanas can do defensively. Also, while Junmar is a poor PnR defender, he's still very valuable to the team with his solid post up offense & physical toughness & he is a perfect compliment to Kai & Edu at the center spot. Sometimes, Junmar & Kai are even fielded by coach Tim at the same time.

On the other hand, I feel Kiefer does a better job as point guard than Iskati Thompson. I feel Parks is a better Gilas player than CJ Perez.

 

[C2Hamm2]

I think the question is, who among the PBA players can or cannot be replaced with a counterpart from outside the PBA in terms of role, position, and impact?

everyone should be replaceable, even JB. you have a set of core players but team manager and coaching staff should have a plan already if someone is not available regardless of reason.
its as if we look at players not as humans. thy can get injured, they would need time with their families, they may get banned(happened already), or just maybe need some rest. its good if players still show up if they face one of these, but we should not expect it. let alone not have plan if this arise.
what i would like to see, is if CTC shows up with new plays to maximise the rest of the roster. as is, some players look quite irreplaceable because of how the offense flows and his defence that a lot of times, is putting Newsome or japeth on a particular player to disrupt the opponent. its all and good if they area available. pero yun nga, what if they are not or opponent reads this thru.
i think CTC is creative enough to make new plays but he is correct, he needs to have more practice with his team.

 

[Metta2]

There's a saying..."sometimes the best ability, is availability."

 

[C2Hamm2]

There's a saying..."sometimes the best ability, is availability."

in the case of Gilas, half the team is not available to start practice earlier. hehe, joking aside, I sure hope they come up with something to add some more practice time together.i dont know if Kai and JB will play. but if not, then practice is even more important to mix in whoever will take their places in the team.