Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[Giannis34GOD]

There are really no easy groups for Asia Pacific teams , NZL playing Croatia (30th ranked ) NZ beating 2nd tier Euro teams isn't a massive upset and has been done repeatedly in past 10 years ( 5 wins vs Euro teams in World level).
Lebanon beating Angola isn't a bigger chance of happening.
To suggest that 28th ranked Lebanon might be ranked higher than NZL 21st after the OQT Is wishful improbable thinking.
littirally no one outside Asia has an opinion that Lebanon is better than NZL currently.
Note NZL is the highest FIBA ranked and WC placed team from Asia pacific team in the OQT ,
as well as the 1st place (along with Australia ) in both the 2019 and 2023 World cup qualifiers , so really no basis that Lebanon is better than NZL currently

Atleast Lebanon have a better chance to advance to the 2nd round of OQT than other APAC teams… Croatia is way better than Angola.. OQT gives you high rank points especially if advance to the 2nd round… Angola is very beatable if they will have a good game plan and a good coach… other Asian teams knows how to beat Angola… Iran beat them, Jordan beat them, China beat them… while Gilas doesn’t know how to beat Angola.. Even Bahrain will go up their rankings even they will lose badly since playing in OQT will give them high ranking points already… playing against world class teams is already achievement for them… and Lebanon already beat NZL even their best possible line up.. NZL almost lose to Egypt and Jordan, and lost to Mexico…

[C2Hamm]

I doubt we will lose against Hong Kong, whatever lineup we put out there, unless if we send a team full of total scrubs. As for Taiwan, will we call up the in-prime guys at least (Oftana, Navarro, Tuffin, Malonzo), and the younger guys (Mamuyac, Winston)?

We need replacements for at least two of Brownlee, Ange, Ross (FIBA-ineligibles), and Japeth (retired).

I don't mind if we recall Scottie, June Mar, Oftana, Perez, Newsome, and JB, but we will need replacements for Ange, Ross (FIBA-ineligibles), and Japeth (retired). We have better SF's than Arvin, and Marcio will be 38 in May 2024, so we might need to look for upgrades over him too. Plus, after June Mar, Brownlee, and the recently-retired Japeth and CStand (who's also ineligible), we have a goodly round number (meaning ZERO) of capable FIBA-eligible centers and PF's from the PBA (Navarro, Oftana, and Malonzo don't count, they're more of wings in the FIBA scene). If Justin Arana can play PF, fine, but he's been used exclusively as a center in Converge.

although I agree to some, and open to the rest that has been posted here so far.... SBP has proven to be quite short sighted that I dont think they will prep for 2025 (actual Asia cup) much less 2027 (WC) games.

how long will the current PBA conference go and will the playoffs\finals go until Feb? if it doesnt then I guess PBA will rep us then. if not, can they make a team usng players from non finals teams? even if we get beaten by NZ, if PBA wins against Taiwan and HK then thats a good outcome already for them. and depending on who goes to the playoffs\finals, there might be a chance to insert 2-3 young players.

OQT is harder to gauge right now. if SBP have something against the B league and KBL boys, i'll get a non-PBA coach and get him to coach players from these 2 leagues (plus Ange) with less than a month time prep. whatever happens there will not affect PBA much.

but to be honest, I dont see any correlation between PBA repping the flag with gate attendance. a few years ago, posters where all "lets boycott watching PBA" because they werent "helping" SBP enough (lending players, moving sched etc) and when PBA did this last Asia games, tickets didnt seem to pickup. im not saying PBA should not help. but they should push back a bit to force SBP to be creative in making teams and not be too reliant with the PBA.

[ja.he]

I doubt we will lose against Hong Kong, whatever lineup we put out there, unless if we send a team full of total scrubs. As for Taiwan, will we call up the in-prime guys at least (Oftana, Navarro, Tuffin, Malonzo), and the younger guys (Mamuyac, Winston)?

We need replacements for at least two of Brownlee, Ange, Ross (FIBA-ineligibles), and Japeth (retired).

I don't mind if we recall Scottie, June Mar, Oftana, Perez, Newsome, and JB, but we will need replacements for Ange, Ross (FIBA-ineligibles), and Japeth (retired). We have better SF's than Arvin, and Marcio will be 38 in May 2024, so we might need to look for upgrades over him too. Plus, after June Mar, Brownlee, and the recently-retired Japeth and CStand (who's also ineligible), we have a goodly round number (meaning ZERO) of capable FIBA-eligible centers and PF's from the PBA (Navarro, Oftana, and Malonzo don't count, they're more of wings in the FIBA scene). If Justin Arana can play PF, fine, but he's been used exclusively as a center in Converge.

Yeah, the February window is relatively easier with Hong Kong and Taipei as our assignment.

If they ever send an all-PBA team, my wish are the following players:

- Laput (NP)
- Carino
- Arana
- Navarro
- Oftana
- Malonzo
- Javi
- Tuffin
- Winston
- Mamuyac
- Rivero
- Black

I bit small. I don't know how they are going to stop Artino and Duncan Reid, though.

[Giannis34GOD]

Yeah, the February window is relatively easier with Hong Kong and Taipei as our assignment.

If they ever send an all-PBA team, my wish are the following players:

- Laput (NP)
- Carino
- Arana
- Navarro
- Oftana
- Malonzo
- Javi
- Tuffin
- Winston
- Mamuyac
- Rivero
- Black

I bit small. I don't know how they are going to stop Artino and Duncan Reid, though.

Hong Kong is very weak team… we can beat them even a MPBL roster… no pressure beating Hong Kong…. Taiwan is more tougher but still beatable…

[IPC]

although I agree to some, and open to the rest that has been posted here so far.... SBP has proven to be quite short sighted that I dont think they will prep for 2025 (actual Asia cup) much less 2027 (WC) games.

how long will the current PBA conference go and will the playoffs\finals go until Feb? if it doesnt then I guess PBA will rep us then. if not, can they make a team usng players from non finals teams? even if we get beaten by NZ, if PBA wins against Taiwan and HK then thats a good outcome already for them. and depending on who goes to the playoffs\finals, there might be a chance to insert 2-3 young players.

OQT is harder to gauge right now. if SBP have something against the B league and KBL boys, i'll get a non-PBA coach and get him to coach players from these 2 leagues (plus Ange) with less than a month time prep. whatever happens there will not affect PBA much.

but to be honest, I dont see any correlation between PBA repping the flag with gate attendance. a few years ago, posters where all "lets boycott watching PBA" because they werent "helping" SBP enough (lending players, moving sched etc) and when PBA did this last Asia games, tickets didnt seem to pickup. im not saying PBA should not help. but they should push back a bit to force SBP to be creative in making teams and not be too reliant with the PBA.

Thing is, Panlilio, our SBP head, is the MERALCO governor, and Ricky Vargas, the SBP VP, is the PBA Chairman and the TNT governor. Chua, an executive adviser, is Ginebra's governor, and the alleged shadow PBA Commissioner. Vargas especially wants the PBA to be the star. At least Chua publicly said that was open to the overseas guys playing for Gilas.

But I agree with the sentiment that SBP has to be creative and look outside the PBA, where FIBA availability is an issue.

[JAMSKIE]

Yeah, the February window is relatively easier with Hong Kong and Taipei as our assignment.

If they ever send an all-PBA team, my wish are the following players:

- Laput (NP)
- Carino
- Arana
- Navarro
- Oftana
- Malonzo
- Javi
- Tuffin
- Winston
- Mamuyac
- Rivero
- Black

I bit small. I don't know how they are going to stop Artino and Duncan Reid, though.

I doubt we can beat Taiwan with this line up especially with a 2 or at best 3-week preparation.

[ja.he]

I doubt we can beat Taiwan with this line up especially with a 2 or at best 3-week preparation.

The weakness of my list is in the bigmen position. This problem is the reflection of what's going on in the PBA - Japeth, CS and Erram are already retired from Gilas, Almazan is really not really that good in FIBA and his commitment is questionable, PBA's current set of good bigs are ineligible (BGR, Datu, Villegas, Laput, CS), eligible bigs are not at par FIBA-wise (Go, Rangel).

[Sikatrix]

Personally they might go majority PBA but the SBP would probably have the likes of AJ in there. If they go all PBA and fail, all the heat is on the PBA. If they get guys from other leagues then things dissipate.

[JAMSKIE]

Al Panlilio & his subordinates in SBP are the dumbest people in the planet if they don't realize that it is the B-league & KBL Gilas players who are the most available national team players (as compared to the PBA national team players) for the qualifying windows of both 2025 FIBA Asia Cup & 2027 FIBA World Cup & the tournament proper for both the Asia Cup & World Cup.

That's because B-league automatically takes a 2-week break for every window of the Asia Cup qualifiers & World Cup qualifiers. PBA used to take a 2-week break during the qualifying windows of the 2019 FIBA World Cup & 2023 FIBA World Cup but things may change for the qualifying windows of the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

What is certain is that PBA didn't take a break during the qualifying windows of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup (well it was the college or amateur players that played for Gilas under coach Tab in these windows). But what was worse is that PBA didn't take a break to give way for Gilas stint in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup tournament proper. As a result, we settled for a Gilas team composed of B-league players (minus Dwight Ramos as he was injured), college players & Poy Erram & Kib Montalbo. Kai Sotto wasn't also available becoz he was I think in the US busy chasing for his NBA dream. No wonder Gilas sucked in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup. I can't help but asked, where were Junmar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Iskati Thompson, Japeth Aguilar? These players could have made a difference.

[IPC]

Al Panlilio & his subordinates in SBP are the dumbest people in the planet if they don't realize that it is the B-league & KBL Gilas players who are the most available national team players (as compared to the PBA national team players) for the qualifying windows of both 2025 FIBA Asia Cup & 2027 FIBA World Cup & the tournament proper for both the Asia Cup & World Cup.

That's because B-league automatically takes a 2-week break for every window of the Asia Cup qualifiers & World Cup qualifiers. PBA used to take a 2-week break during the qualifying windows of the 2019 FIBA World Cup & 2023 FIBA World Cup but things may change for the qualifying windows of the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

What is certain is that PBA didn't take a break during the qualifying windows of the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup (well it was the college or amateur players that played for Gilas under coach Tab in these windows). But what was worse is that PBA didn't take a break to give way for Gilas stint in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup tournament proper. As a result, we settled for a Gilas team composed of B-league players (minus Dwight Ramos as he was injured), college players & Poy Erram & Kib Montalbo. Kai Sotto wasn't also available becoz he was I think in the US busy chasing for his NBA dream. No wonder Gilas sucked in the 2022 FIBA Asia Cup. I can't help but asked, where were Junmar Fajardo, CJ Perez, Calvin Oftana, Iskati Thompson, Japeth Aguilar? These players could have made a difference.

Ricky Vargas, the PBA Chair, and the SBP Vice-President, probably thinks that we don't need the overseas guys while he wants the PBA to return to the 3-conference format and back to normal. Jeez.

Gusto magpabida, pero bokya sa adjustment ng sked. Galing ng hunghang.

[ARMIR]

I doubt we will lose against Hong Kong, whatever lineup we put out there, unless if we send a team full of total scrubs. As for Taiwan, will we call up the in-prime guys at least (Oftana, Navarro, Tuffin, Malonzo), and the younger guys (Mamuyac, Winston)?

We need replacements for at least two of Brownlee, Ange, Ross (FIBA-ineligibles), and Japeth (retired).

I don't mind if we recall Scottie, June Mar, Oftana, Perez, Newsome, and JB, but we will need replacements for Ange, Ross (FIBA-ineligibles), and Japeth (retired). We have better SF's than Arvin, and Marcio will be 38 in May 2024, so we might need to look for upgrades over him too. Plus, after June Mar, Brownlee, and the recently-retired Japeth and CStand (who's also ineligible), we have a goodly round number (meaning ZERO) of capable FIBA-eligible centers and PF's from the PBA (Navarro, Oftana, and Malonzo don't count, they're more of wings in the FIBA scene). If Justin Arana can play PF, fine, but he's been used exclusively as a center in Converge.

I'm feeling an Abueva and Romeo will be in the lineup,this would be a team of PBA fan favorites and will be very small.

[IPC]

I'm feeling an Abueva and Romeo will be in the lineup,this would be a team of PBA fan favorites and will be very small.

I don't mind Terrence, as he can score and shoot (just need a good defender alongside him), and he'll be 32 by March 2024, but Abueva will be 36 by the time of the February qualifiers, and he's only 6'2". But if he can still defend bigger wings, fine.

[Giannis34GOD]

Personally they might go majority PBA but the SBP would probably have the likes of AJ in there. If they go all PBA and fail, all the heat is on the PBA. If they get guys from other leagues then things dissipate.

The only overseas players SBP badly needed are Kai, AJ, Dwight and Abando… others can be replicated by PBA players…. Oftana can bring what Parks can bring to the table… Malonzo can bring what Tamayo can do, Perez, Scottie, Newsome are enough to be in Gilas slot.. Junmar is no question… we badly need Junmar until 2027/2028 (if qualified for LA Olympics), If baltazar enters PBA next season then SBP will tap him too…

[IPC]

The only overseas players SBP badly needed are Kai, AJ, Dwight and Abando… others can be replicated by PBA players…. Oftana can bring what Parks can bring to the table… Malonzo can bring what Tamayo can do, Perez, Scottie, Newsome are enough to be in Gilas slot.. Junmar is no question… we badly need Junmar until 2027/2028 (if qualified for LA Olympics), If baltazar enters PBA next season then SBP will tap him too…

If Ange is our NP, I think June Mar is not indispensable. Otherwise, I have to agree that we might need him, although we need to watch his age (he was born November 1989, making him 34 now, 37 by the 2027 WC, and 38 by the 2028 Olympics).

As for the four, the PBA does not have a big four. They have Troy, yes, but he's a poor FIBA player. Like I said, they have ZERO reliable FIBA-eligible options at 4 outside of Brownlee and the recently-retired Japeth. If our NP occupies the 1, 2, or 3 slots, I think we need one of Carl or Balti as an extra body at 4. And by the way, Malonzo provides shooting, help defense, and some perimeter D. Carl provides post scoring, shot creation, post defense, and size at the 4. Different skillsets, but we need Malonzo's defense at 3 and Carl's size at 4 (if Brownlee's not the NP).

Oftana is a reliable defender and hustles for boards, but he's not the shooter Parks is. Name a reliable FIBA-eligible shooter in the PBA not named Terrence Romeo (who's 31) and Marcio Lassiter (who's 36). Heck, Pogoy, who had a good outing last WC, is 31. Our best shooters are not in the PBA. They're Parks and Heading.

And lastly, a lot of our reliable PBA players are aging or old. Castro's 37, Marcio's 36, Abueva's 35, June Mar's 34, Newsome's 33, Terrence is 31, Scottie is 30, Perez is 30. We need youth. Good thing the PBA has Navarro, Oftana, and Malonzo as good 26-27yo players. While Schonny (25), Tuffin (26), and maybe Mamuyac (24) can be reliable, we need to test them in FIBA first, and except for Mamu, they're not that young. The overseas guys provide the youth we need. Carl's 22, Kai's 21, AJ's 23, SJ's 24, RJ's 24. We need to be selective in which 30+-year-olds to retain.

[JAMSKIE]

I don't mind Terrence, as he can score and shoot (just need a good defender alongside him), and he'll be 32 by March 2024, but Abueva will be 36 by the time of the February qualifiers, and he's only 6'2". But if he can still defend bigger wings, fine.

Abueva may be 4 years older than Romeo but it looks like Abueva is more in prime than Romeo. Romeo has become injury prone in the last 4 years of his career while Abueva hardly gets injured.

Abueva has hardly showed any signs of slowing down.