Smart Gilas in the 2010 Asiad

[nardy2]

from Twitter:

NoliEala Noli Eala

Asiad bball trivia: youngest team India (ave age 23.3), Uzbek (23.3). PHI tied for 10th w/ TAP (25.1). Oldest is JPN (28.8).
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NoliEala Noli Eala

Asiad bball trivia: Lightest in weight Uzbek (161.1lbs), NoKor (181.1). PHI tied for 5th w/ HKG (183. 8). Heaviest China (225?)
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NoliEala Noli Eala

Tallest ave height 1-CHI 6'71/2, 2-IRN 6'5 4/15, 3-JOR 6'4 5/6, 4-SoKOR 6'4 6/13, T5- PHI/TURK 6'4 1/3. 7-JPN, 8-TAP. Shortest Uzb 5'11 3/4.
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NoliEala Noli Eala

Youngest player is Vipul Shah (IND), Timofeev (UZB) and Fakhirah (QAT) @ 18. Oldest is ASI Taulava (PHI) @ 37.
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NoliEala Noli Eala

Tallest player Jaber Rouzbahani (IRN) 7'4, Zhang Zhaoxu (CHI) 7'2. Shortest is Almuneer (KUW), Gusev (Uzb) 5'7.
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[interxavierxxx2]

Why do I get the feeling that heights of the players (of all teams) are all incorrect? Meh, the Asian Games and its "accurate" measurements.

 

[nardy2]

Why do I get the feeling that heights of the players (of all teams) are all incorrect? Meh, the Asian Games and its "accurate" measurements.

all the teams are actually jockeying for an psychological advantage .... even our own team registered as official that Sol Mercado and Marcio Lassiter's heights is at 6'4 and Jason Ballesteros at 6'10 hahaha

 

[nardy2]

And the final 12 for Gilas are...
Thursday, 11 November 2010 11:10
Joel Orellana / Reporter

FOUR pros and eight amateurs will carry the country’s tricolors in the 16th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament in Guangzhou.

Pros Kelly Williams, Asi Taulava and Solomon Mercado head Smart Gilas Pilipinas while Japeth Aguilar, who has been on loan to the national squad for over a year now, was also included in the 12-man roster bared on Thursday after the team managers’ meeting at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena.

Amateur standouts Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Chris Tiu, Jason Ballesteros, Greg Slaughter and Marnel Baracael, and Filipino-Americans Chris Lutz and Marcio Lassiter complete the final roster.

Dropped from the squad were Dylan Ababou and Aldrech Ramos, two players who have been in the basketball program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) since Smart Gilas was formed in early 2009.

“I’m happy with my lineup but I missed Marcus [Douthit],” said Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, referring to the country’s naturalization candidate.

“I think it’s the best we can put together under the circumstances,” said assistant coach Chot Reyes.

Lassister was a surprise inclusion as the six-foot-two guard-forward’s status was doubtful after a hip surgery in the United States. Mercado’s left ankle seemed to be fine as he was also picked for the final roster.

Among the 12, only 37-year-old Taulava has Asian Games experience. He played in the 2002 Busan Games in South Korea.

“The final lineup is versatile, athletic and quick. Exactly what we need for the Asiad,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala, who attended the managers’ meeting along with officials Butch Antonio and Bernie Atienza.

Ababou, a one-time Most Valuable Player in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) while playing for University of Santo Tomas, and back-to-back UAAP Mythical Five member Ramos, won’t be seeing action for the squad this time.

And the coaching staff admitted that it was a very difficult decision to make.

“The hardest part of a coach’s job is to tell the guys [Ababou and Ramos], who have been with the program since the start, that they didn’t make it. But that’s basketball,” said Reyes.

The nationals will meet Kuwait on Saturday in the first round of the basketball competition with the winner advancing to the main draw.

The Kuwaitis, according to Eala, were not represented in the team managers’ meeting although they submitted their final lineup.

“There’s no Kuwait representative in the meeting this morning but we are assured that there will no longer be changes in the format,” said Eala.

Toroman said Kuwait can play but under the International Olympic Committee (IOC) flag—the IOC this year suspended the Kuwait Olympic Committee because of alleged interference by its government in elections of sports organizations.

The schedule of the RP-Kuwait match is 7:15 p.m. at the Guangti Gymnasium.

Meanwhile, Eala said Iranian forward Samad Nikkhah Bahrami won’t be playing in the Asian Games because of an injury, while seven-foot-three star center Hamed Haddadi’s status is still doubtful.

Both Bahrami and Haddadi are in the final roster of Iran five for the Asian Games.

If the Philippines beats Kuwait, Iran will be its next assignment in the main draw on November 16.

Joel Orellana

 

[nardy2]

Smart Gilas coaches make do with what’s left in their roster

By Arman Carandang 11/12/2010

Versatile, athletic and quick.

That’s how Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) describes the relatively tall Smart Gilas team to represent the Philippines in the 16th Asian Games basketball competition beginning tomorrow in Gangzhou, China.

“The final lineup is versatile, athletic and quick; exactly what we may need for the Asiad,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala who revealed yesterday the final 12 players who will make up the team.

Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Greg Slaughter — whose height are 6-foot-7 and above — stand at the forefront of the Gilas team that’s hoping regain the lost glory — although with daunting task — for the country in the Asian level.

The other members of the team are Mark Barroca, JV Casio, Chris Tiu, Sol Mercado, Mac Baracael, Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz.

Dropped from the line up were University of Santo Tomas standout Dylan Ababou and Far Eastern University stalwart Aldrech Ramos.

Nationals coach Rajko Toroman said he was happy with the line-up, while his assistant, Chot Reyes, added it is the best that the coaching staff can put together under the circumstances.

Slaughter, who stands seven feet tall, is expected to carry the Nationals’ battle in the rebound department as they take on other nations who are undoubtedly dotted as they are with towering players.

Taulava is the most experienced among the Nationals, having seen action in a number of international tournaments, including the Asian Games in 2002 in Busan, South Korea.

The first assignment for the Nationals will be tomorrow when they take on a Kuwaiti team, if indeed the latter shows up for the 7:15 p.m. game at Guangti Gymnasium.

Words had it that Kuwait, which was suspended in basketball owing to government intervention, was not represented in the managers’ meeting attended by the SBP officials.

The Nationals will have to prevail over Kuwait in the preliminary round to make it to the next round which is a lot tougher as they will be joining Qatar, Japan, Chinese Taipei and Iran.

The next round is a single round robin affair where the top four will move to cross-over quarterfinals alongside the top four of the other group that includes defending champion China, South Korea, Jordan and Uzbekistan.

 

[nardy2]

Thursday, November 11, 2010
The Smart Gilas lineup to the Guangzhou Asian Games

The roster of Smart Gilas Pilipinas to the Asian Games is this:
Chris Tiu - captain
Mark Barroca - co-captain
Jayvee Casio
Mac Baracael
Jason Ballesteros
Greg Slaughter
Marcio Lassiter
Japeth Aguilar
Chris Lutz
Solomon Mercado
Kelly Williams
Asi Taulava


Not included in the line-up for the tournament that will be held in Guangzhou, China are longtime mainstays Dylan Ababou and Aldrech Ramos. I hope that doesn't affect the morale of the remaining homegrown members of the squad. The players have talked about the proliferation of Fil-Ams in the program (and in Philippine sports) and while they understand, they are none too happy about it. The program of course has been refined to deal with the new developments. It is but a natural progression. Even Northern Consolidated Cement had to change its roster to go with the times and the tournaments they competed in. Right now that's gotta suck for Dylan and Al but here's hoping that they get a chance to compete. After all, that's what they signed up for. They just didn't expect some monkey wrench thrown in there. In case you did not see the last FIBA World Championships, you have to wonder how to compete when almost every team out there is not only taller but more talented and athletic. So we have our work cut out for us. So good luck, Smart Gilas. Good luck, Team Philippines.


Posted by Rick Olivares

 

[nardy2]

Gilas bares Asiad 'Dirty Dozen'
By Nelson Beltran (The Philippine Star)
Updated November 12, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=629358&publicationSubCategoryId=69#Philippines - Despite nursing an injured left foot, Sol Mercado was included in the Final 12 of Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas for the 16th Asian Games basketball competition starting tomorrow in Guangzhou, China.

Also making the team are Mark Barroca, Jayvee Casio, Chris Tiu, Marcius Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Mac Baracael, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Greg Slaughter, Kelly Williams and Asi Taulava.

Marcus Douthit is out since his naturalization papers were not processed in time. Dylan Ababou and Aldrech Ramos have been relegated to reserve list.

“The hardest part of a coach’s job is to tell guys like Dylan and Aldrech, who’ve been with the program since the start, that they didn’t make it. But that’s basketball,” said assistant coach Chot Reyes.

SBP officials submitted the Smart Gilas final lineup during the team managers’ meeting yesterday morning at the Guangzhou International Sports Arena.

According to SBP executive director Noli Eala, no Kuwaiti official was present in the meeting, but the original format and schedule stayed, pitting the Filipinos and the Kuwaitis in a knockout match at 7:15 p.m. tomorrow at the Guangti Gymnasium.

In a final warm-up for the Kuwait game, the Nationals were to battle the Dongguan Leopards last night in Dongguan City.

Should they get past the Kuwaitis, Smart Gilas earns a seat in the main draw, bracketed in Group E with Iran, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Qatar and the winner in the India-Afghanistan KO game.

SBP officials are hopeful of the Nationals’ chance against back-to-back FIBA Asia champion Iran with its top gun Nikah Bahrami out of the roster and 7-foot-2 center Hamed Haddadi a doubtful starter.

Host China, Jordan and South Korea loom as the top favorites.

The Koreans are aching to redeem themselves from a dismal fifth place finish in Doha, Qatar in 2006 – the first time in 48 years they missed a podium finish in the games.

In a determined bid to figure well in the medal race, the Koreans recruited NBA Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens as technical adviser and twice pitched training camp in the United States.

 

[pachador2]

I think the 2 teams to beat here would be china and south korea as well as japan and iran. The philippines will be the dark horse simply because we dont know how the PBA reinforcements will affect the philippine team performance. Secondly, we dont know the real playing condition(recovery from injuries) of the tall guards - of mercado,and lassiter. if the PBA reinforcements gell well , and improve the Gilas playing level by 10% to 30% by increasing :
1.) shaded lane shots
2.) more rebounds
3.) better defense
4.) higher free throw and field goal%

then, south korea, china and the other strong teams will have a fight on their hands specially if lutz , mercado and lassiter explode. I also believe that if the PBA reinforcements gell well, it will open a lot of playing situations and opportunities for Gilas on the court - more flexibility in plays, more above the rim and shaded area attacks, etc. In any case, no team no matter how strong should take other teams lightly no matter how weak. After all, upsets have happened before.

 

[nardy2]

Gilas drops Ababou, Ramos

By WAYLON GALVEZ
November 11, 2010, 7:00pm


MANILA, Philippines — Collegiate stars Dylan Ababou and Aldrech Ramos have been dropped from the 12-man Smart-Gilas Pilipinas team that is tasked to bring home a medal in the Guangzhou Asian Games.


Ababou, the UAAP Most Valuable Player back in 2009, and Ramos of Far Eastern University are currently with the team that comprised the 14-man roster but were cut on the day of the team managers’ meeting to make way for the three PBA players.


The two will remain in Guangzhou to support the team.


The Nationals will face Kuwait in the knockout first round this Friday.


Making it to the Smart-Gilas lineup are co-captains Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca and Jayvee Casio, fellow amateur stalwarts Mac Baracael and Jason Ballesteros, Fil-Ams Chris Lutz, Gregory Slaughter and Marcio Lassiter, and PBA reinforcements Asi Taulava, Kelly Williams, Sol Mercado and Japeth Aguilar.


Ababou and Ramos have been with the team since its formation in late 2008 together with Tiu, Casio, Barroca, Baracael and Ballesteros.

 

[Khalid802]

you always forgot... same location as yours

Patawad pare . I know ur living in the UAE but cuz you watched Smart Gilas in Dubai I thought you were living there and I forgot that you did like me and went from Abu Dhabi to go watch the games.

 

[kaiziken_pinas2]

damn..........no Ababou!

He deserves a slot nmn! anyway, good luck Gilas!!!
Pilipinas, ahoo!!!

anyway, a semis stint is ok na

 

[ramjo2]

all the teams are actually jockeying for an psychological advantage .... even our own team registered as official that Sol Mercado and Marcio Lassiter's heights is at 6'4 and Jason Ballesteros at 6'10 hahaha

Yeah, but I notice that Japeth "shrunk" to 6'8.

 

[sergio232]

Yeah, but I notice that Japeth "shrunk" to 6'8.

he shared some of his inches to JBalle and Sol Mercado XD

 

[dtfernando2]

Demoralized??? Throw them to the dogs then.

Demoralized??? Throw them to the dogs then.

The best executives, managers, workers and basketball players NEVER get demoralized. Demoralization is a very good sign of an inferior spirit -- one that get's brokern easily -- and cowardice. Any national player who plays demoralized should be dropped at 30,000 feet and -40 degrees centigrade. There are too many overacting local players and their local fans.

A national team is supposed to contain the best Pinoys - full, 1/2, 1/8, or one whatever. Being a local player with inferior international skills, erratic performance and unknowable mental toughness can never justify inclusion in any national team. Ababou and Ramos are good players who will excel in commercial leagues like the PBA. But they simply are not better than the ones who are presently included in the team for fighting off very determined foreigners. If you didn't cry for the non-inclusion of say, Sison, there's also zero reason to protest the non-inclusion of any other player.

In all likelihood, prospective younger national players like Parks, Fajardo, van Opstal are also better than them. There has been too much drama that negatively affects the formation of the best possible team. Reducing the OA sentiments of fans is a very good first step.

 

[eindhow2]

Anonymous // November 11, 2010 4:29 PM
Armangdon Scouting report on china : I saw their recent exhibition game over USA. They are fast and likes to run the ball and shoot 3's very well but they are weak in controlling the ball to the hoop. Rp team must do, is to force them to drive the ball in the basket and not to give them open 3 point looks.They were missing lay up shots, that means there poor in one on one basketball plays.

RP TEam MUst do(summary:
1. We must defend them in outside terretory.
2.Better to give lay ups than 3 point basket.
3. We must play physical game to disrup their plays.

--- Against USA???? maybe an american team?
This is from a post on Teampilipinas.info
Dont know how reliable this is but i think its worth posting
(there are even many mispelled words)

Ball handling has always been, what I see, a problem in all Chinese teams.. They have all the big guys but their guards, particularly the point guards, aren't that good enough.. But still strong..

 

[eindhow2]

I expect Gilas to be in the top 5, a medal at most.. I like to see how our team would compete versus South Korea and China..

 

[reamily2]

Asiad power rankings

Favorites for gold- Iran China and Korea

Contenders for a medal finish (final 4)- Qatar, Japan and Philippines

Dark horses- Taiwan, Jordan(they have chances for medal but not as significant as the higher three)

1 China (because they are host and they have not lost a pivotal player yeah Yi is their 2nd best player but we know how deep china front is)
2 Iran (Even with haddadi they lost their two top swingman thats more vital than losing haddadi imo because of Kardoust improved play)
3 Korea
4 Japan (if they play below the top 2 in their group chances of going to final 4 is slimmer but if not the opposite)
5 Qatar
6 Philippines
7 Taiwan (although they are favored to be out of top 8 due to the groupings)
8 Jordan
9 North Korea (9-11 have the chance to make to quarters although they are far from top 7)
10 Turkmenistan(because they are confident to show/pad something that they have ceiling)
11 Uzbekistan
12 India
13 Afghanistan
14 Hong Kong
15 Kuwait
16 Mongolia

 

[joeven2]

A semis appearance for Gilas Pilipinas would be enough for me. Winning the BRONZE / SILVER would be a blessing... Bringing home the GOLD would be history in the making!

 

[jrb0yd2]

most likely this will be the same team we'll be seeing at next year's fiba asia with only maybe 2 additions... douthit for ballesteros and james yap for... barroca. so all in all there would be 5 pba players including japeth, same as what i envisioned when gilas was formed... anyway too early.... so stoked to see gilas perform in asian games. a medal finish is a must to develop a winning attitude. i would be totally disappointed if we finish 3rd or below that especially with the kind of competition we'll be having (most of the teams will play without their superstars)... i expect a finals appearance.... goodluck to gilas!

 

[CoJ2]

BTW which network would cover the Asian Games?