Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[IPC]

I just wondering China sports media doesn't see yet Kai and Kouame playing.. Their scouting reports to us is our guards are our first in line attack.. They didn't know that our guards are not so good compare before... hehehehhehehehehe!!!

https://www.sohu.com/a/476045082_679...x_pagerecom_13

They're relying on PBA style offense,plus the fact year in year out everytime they faced Gilas,its always the guards that lead the attack on the floor,I'm ok with that,that means the SFs and Centers will have shock value for Gilas.

Remember this Gilas iteration is still relatively new. They haven't competed in a major tournament outside the qualifiers. The guard-heavy offense pioneered by Chot goes as far back as 2005. It's going to take some before Tab's system becomes the de-facto style in the national team.

Just look at Korea. They made some changes here and there but they are still the same Korea that loves to move the ball to find an open three point shooter. They've used the same style since the 90s and it's kept them consistent. That's why when we hear "Korea", we already know we are facing a well organized team that loves to shoot outside shots.

Yeah, at least the Koreans keep that core principle of finding open shooters.

We on the other hand don't have a consistent basketball identity. I hope ours will be a physical but disciplined defense, and I hope Tab (and his successors) keeps the defensive identity in Gilas for good. The better we defend, the better chances of winning we have.

Speaking of defense, I watched a few FIBA Gilas games, specifically against SoKor in 2013, 2017, and 2021, and against Iran in 2015. I noticed that Gilas rotated well against SoKor in 2013 and 2021, and against Iran in 2015. Those teams never got comfortable getting shots off. On the other hand, the rotation against SoKor was pretty shoddy. As a result, that team got too comfortable , and started taking (and making) a lot of threes in the end (including more than a few wide-open shots). Guess which of these games we lost.

[IPC]

Yeah.. Much butter this:

SEAG - PBA select players
WC qualifying windows - PBA Cadet players (w/o Kai, AJ, Thirdy, etc)
FIBA Asia cup (If re-sched) - Tab Baldwin led Gilas team (Who played in ACQ & OQT plus maybe AJ)
Asian Games - Same as the third one...

I have the exact same view as to WC qualifying windows. We promote the other cadets to the senior team, since we're automatically qualified for the World Cup. Of course we try to win, but emphasis on development.

[IPC]

Watching the PBA after watching FIBA makes these guys look like amateurs.

Yeah. Amazing that Gilas kinda raised our standards when we judge execution and defense.

[JAMSKIE]

I have the exact same view as to WC qualifying windows. We promote the other cadets to the senior team, since we're automatically qualified for the World Cup. Of course we try to win, but emphasis on development.

Yeah, in every window of the 2023 World Cup, we sneak in some of our younger cadets & maybe I should say non-shoo in players or players who are still very much in the development stage, in the roster like Lopez, Anonuevo, Panopio, Bulanadi, Belangel, Abando (if he's allowed by his college team).

When we talk kasi of shoo-ins we are referring to the likes of Kai, Dwight Ramos, Kouame, Balty, Tamayo, Thirdy, Matt Nieto.

[IPC]

waiting for local news outlets to announce this

https://www.jordannews.jo/Section-72...w-July-15-4954

Quinito says that participation is a possibility, but it's dependent on whether the FIBA Asia Cup will be postponed: https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021...ng-jordan/amp/

[JAMSKIE]

Quinito says that participation is a possibility, but it's dependent on whether the FIBA Asia Cup will be postponed: https://www.philstar.com/sports/2021...ng-jordan/amp/

I say even if the Asia Cup is postponed, Gilas should still play for this pocket tournament in Jordan. Gilas needs every tune-up or actual tournament game it could get. The pocket tournament is a perfect stint for Gilas. Nandyan na rin lamang yan eh, we just have to make the most out of it.

[IPC]

After watching 10/12 PBA teams played this season, I appreciate our Gilas team more last FIBA 5x5 tournaments under Tab. Pandemic limitations were already given. But I would always want to see how our boys will fare against SMB, Ginebra and TNT.

For those teams, I think they'll face a problem only at the forward positions. The guards, well, lamang ang teams na 'yun.

[IPC]

Guys quick question, what if Heading or Navarro joined the B. League, is there any repurcussions? Tecnically they dont have any contracts sa PBA only but they signed with Gilas. Perfect examples is Tungcab, supposed to play in the D2 b league but failed to comply with the paper works.

The question is will they be available for Gilas. Remember Thirdy wasn't able to play for Gilas even though his last game was mid April in B League

With Thirdy back, that question might be settled.

As I was saying, their availability issues might come in windows, but not for the main tournament, which is the real concern with the PBA.

[zairex]

With Thirdy back, that question might be settled.

As I was saying, their availability issues might come in windows, but not for the main tournament, which is the real concern with the PBA.

If they are not available in qualifiers then we might have no main tournaments to participate with. I hope that playing abroad will make them available but also how about long prep time. We will lost that to like how PBA games limited the prep time for qualifiers.

[IPC]

If they are not available in qualifiers then we might have no main tournaments to participate with. I hope that playing abroad will make them available but also how about long prep time. We will lost that to like how PBA games limited the prep time for qualifiers.

Good point about the qualifiers and main tournaments, especially given that not every tournament we're automatically qualified. And, yeah I do hope playing abroad will give the overseas players sufficient prep time.

Best available aren't always the ones we need, and may not have been used to the system. Good thing we're automatically qualified for the WC, so we can experiment with newcomers and get them used to the system as much as possible.

This is kind of a challenge. How do we develop players while at the same time ensure their availability? We're in a terrible spot regarding Gilas players, honestly.

[IPC]

If Gilas joins the league as guests, expect that atleast half of the teams will get beaten black and blue by this Gilas squad. Even without Kai, players like Kouame, Chiu, Cariño, Baltazar, Go, Tamayo, Navarro, Dwight will be EITHER too big, too skilled, OR too mobile against Terrafirma, Blackwater, Northport, Phoenix, NLEX, and ROS. Even Alaska and Meralco will have a hard time against Gilas. Not to mention, Gilas has Tab.

The only way these teams can win against Gilas is to play dirty.

I want some challenge.. maybe much better they will play with an import conference.. I want likes of baltazar, navarro to defend super imports likes of brownlee, McDaniels.. they were exposed against Dominican Republic.. gilas might be big favorites if they play in a all pinoy conference.. much better pba teams have imports to have a sweat with gilas...

PBA will do what DR did to Gilas. Without Kai it will be easier . I dont know how will Gilas beat a PBA team. Do you think Kouame can handle Abueva

Yeah, a PBA team with CJ Perez, Calvin Abueva, Stanley Pringle, Robert Bolick or Terrence Romeo. DR did it off dribble penetration off the Gilas guards. The guys I mentioned, they're the only ones who can approximate the size, speed and scoring threat of Solano, Liz, and Torres.

Where PBA teams have the edge on Gilas is gulang, physicality, and effort on 50-50 balls.

However, Gilas do have a height advantage, especially on the forward spots (except against NorthPort and Ginebra's PF). A lot of PBA 3's range from 6'1"-6'3", although there are 3-men who stand 6'4"-6'5", not to mention that we love 3-guard lineups, the third guard standing 6'1"-6'3" like most 3's. The smallest Gilas players who can play 3 is Thirdy at 6'2". Other than him, it's 6'5" Dwight, 6'6" Navarro, 6'7" Baltazar, and 6'8" Tamayo. As to the 4, well, Gilas has 6'8" Tamayo and 6'7" Baltazar, who are both skilled in the post and have a height advantage over most PBA PFs. On a lot of cases, that might be BBQ chicken, especially against 3-guard lineups.

And the perimeter game, well, even if Gilas didn't shoot that well in the 5 games, Gilas can still make a lot of PBA teams pay for rotating poorly.

[ARMIR]

I say even if the Asia Cup is postponed, Gilas should still play for this pocket tournament in Jordan. Gilas needs every tune-up or actual tournament game it could get. The pocket tournament is a perfect stint for Gilas. Nandyan na rin lamang yan eh, we just have to make the most out of it.

Gotta rest those legs,for their college teams and Kai's NBL team,you don't expect them to actually keep playing high level basketball and theyperformed mediocre with their mother teams,they won't let them go next time.Some of the boys are not made with sterner stuff,as we see some of them get injuries on a high level practice and some during games.Plenty of time and tournaments to gain more experience,just gotta balance the off time too.

[reamily]

Uaap is playing next year at least, unless you called college training high intense..

[IPC]

Gilas guards will have trouble if they face star power guards of SMB and tnt.. I'm sure about that.. I see Romeo now back in his golden hair moves of 2015.. Belangel, nieto and RJ will have a hard time catching TR7... And I saw the highlights of tnt yesterday.. tnt has solid forwards.. you have Troy, Kelly and jaywash there.. they can match up against tamayo, baltazar and navarro.. si Kelly eh dumadunk pa eh...

While TNT can match up at the 1, 2, 4, and 5 spots, they might have a problem at the 3, where they only have Khobuntin, Ryan Reyes, and Pogoy. Of those three, only Khobuntin is not a clear mismatch at the 3. The other two would be BBQ chicken against Tamayo and Baltazar.

[IPC]

Yeah.. but Ryan Reyes defensive instinct will be a problem for these two.. yesterday Kasi I watch the highlights eh he was still in tip top shape.. kinda reminds of DR guards tong si Reyes.. in PBA settings Kasi he can play three.. although small in that position.. but his strength, defensive instinct nya on hussle might cost some problems for these two.. Di pa gaano develop ang dribbling nila eh.. in SMB Naman eh grabe Naman guards nila.. Romeo is back in his 2015 days.. kundisyon... And having CJ Perez also can play 3 in PBA settings eh solve din sila.. coach tab I think if they face these three giants of pba (ginebra, SMB and tnt), he should do a lot of creativity to overcome these talents from these three...

Maybe tnt and SMB guards can give problems to gilas side.. it's hard for guys like Belangel and RJ contain the trio of pogoy, Castro and Williams while on SMB are Ross, Romeo and Perez.. while on ginebra, only Pringle will be big headache for gilas guards.. while these three teams have atleast decent height the match up gilas wing men and bigs.. if gilas has no Kai sotto, tnt and ginebra can give a good match up for gilas wings .. tnt has Troy, Kelly, jaywash and even erram to match up Vs baltazar, tamayo and navarro.. while ginebra has tolentino, Jared, JDV, and even japeth.. although gilas have advantage over SMB in wings, as only arwind and Lassiter are only good wings for SMB...

I might have to agree. Reyes is undersized, but strong. And about the two, it's not their dribbling, it's their length in the post. Quick hook from Baltazar and a turnaround from Tamayo, you might need help to defend them.

Sa SMB, if either of Perez, Marcio, or Pessumal play the 3, BBQ chicken sila kina Baltazar at Tamayo.

So far, Ginebra looks easy to defend. Too much interior action and not enough spacing. Gilas might have an easier time on defense, since the floor is shrunk.