Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[TheRodster21]

Like sir Metta said, Belmonte and Lazaro have potential to be tall SF's that can guard the perimeter. I think Torculas can too. Oftana was once a good defender in the August window, and Malonzo has the tools, so has Lopez and Policarpio. Thing is, Lopez and Oftana get blown by on defense these days, and from what I read here from sir TheRodster21, Policarpio has trouble on perimeter defense too.

If our big-minute SF can't be a star in FIBA, focus on 3&D, or at least a good man-to-man defender at that spot.

I think Bayla can be added to that list, 6’4 I think but 6’7 wingspan and laterally quick enough but he needs to put on more muscle.

[JAMSKIE]

Credit to his dad and his school then. The US experience probably cemented that he would be a perimeter player. Perimeter defense is lacking in our tall SF hopefuls. It is only Navarro now.

I remember 3 or 4 years ago a Pinoy blogger described Chico Briones as someone who can play as a combo guard. Well I took such statement with a grain of salt. I was thinking if Chico plays as a natural wing guy, then that's already nice considering that he's 6-5/6-6.

When a blogger says this player plays as a point guard, I think that player is actually a combo guard. When a blogger says this kid plays as a combo guard, I'm thinking that player is a natural 2-guard.

[IPC]

I remember 3 or 4 years ago a Pinoy blogger described Chico Briones as someone who can play as a combo guard. Well I took such statement with a grain of salt. I was thinking if Chico plays as a natural wing guy, then that's already nice considering that he's 6-5/6-6.

When a blogger says this player plays as a point guard, I think that player is actually a combo guard. When a blogger says this kid plays as a combo guard, I'm thinking that player is a natural 2-guard.

And there's nothing wrong with that. A 6'5"-6'6" PG is already gravy. It's good enough for the off-guard. As long as he can bring the ball up and initiate the offense as a combo guard, that's good enough.

As for Chicco, he's been an off-ball threat, a 3&D player, which is also good. We'll need more of those.

[Metta]

I remember 3 or 4 years ago a Pinoy blogger described Chico Briones as someone who can play as a combo guard. Well I took such statement with a grain of salt. I was thinking if Chico plays as a natural wing guy, then that's already nice considering that he's 6-5/6-6.

When a blogger says this player plays as a point guard, I think that player is actually a combo guard. When a blogger says this kid plays as a combo guard, I'm thinking that player is a natural 2-guard.

Positions have been blurring internationally for several years now.

Now, a lot of "SG's" are either just bigger PG's or smaller SF's. PF's are just bigger SF's (true PF's are almost extinct in the nba). It's the overall trend towards everyone having SF skills/play-style...because of position-less/switch everything basketball. Versatility.

Chicco is a good example of this prototypical player, which gives him good potential internationally.

[IPC]

Positions have been blurring internationally for several years now.

Now, a lot of "SG's" are either just bigger PG's or smaller SF's. PF's are just bigger SF's (true PF's are almost extinct in the nba). It's the overall trend towards everyone having SF skills/play-style...because of position-less/switch everything basketball. Versatility.

Chicco is a good example of this prototypical player, which gives him good potential internationally.

In the Euroleague and even FIBA, classic fours are common. Tweeners like Nikola Mirotic, Juancho Hernangomez, Achille Polonara, Gabriel Deck, and fours like Konstantinos Mitoglou, Filip Petrusev. Heck, Aaron Gordon is good as a classic PF in the NBA.

[Metta]

In the Euroleague and even FIBA, classic fours are common. Tweeners like Nikola Mirotic, Juancho Hernangomez, Achille Polonara, Gabriel Deck, and fours like Konstantinos Mitoglou, Filip Petrusev. Heck, Aaron Gordon is good as a classic PF in the NBA.

Gordon's the only one of note in the nba that's why I said "almost extinct."

[IPC]

Gordon's the only one of note in the nba that's why I said "almost extinct."

And he's good there because of his length and athleticism.

[Metta]

And he's good there because of his length and athleticism.

There should be an asterisk with him though because he plays alongside Jokic who is a playmaking, 3-point-shooting 7 footer who gets so much gravity from opposing defenses. He won't be as effective with a vanilla center. On the defensive side though, he is "versatile" (modern) and is elite.

The PFs now are in the mold of KD, Giannis, Markannen.

[IPC]

There should be an asterisk with him though because he plays alongside Jokic who is a playmaking, 3-point-shooting 7 footer who gets so much gravity from opposing defenses. He won't be as effective with a vanilla center. On the defensive side though, he is "versatile" (modern) and is elite.

The PFs now are in the mold of KD, Giannis, Markannen.

I think Lauri's more of a classic 4. He was a 7-foot PF coming into the NBA, played the 3 in Cleveland because of Mobley and Allen. I agree with the KD and Giannis types (and wings in general) in the NBA playing as fours, though.

[JAMSKIE]

Positions have been blurring internationally for several years now.

Now, a lot of "SG's" are either just bigger PG's or smaller SF's. PF's are just bigger SF's (true PF's are almost extinct in the nba). It's the overall trend towards everyone having SF skills/play-style...because of position-less/switch everything basketball. Versatility.

Chicco is a good example of this prototypical player, which gives him good potential internationally.

Does Chico Briones play some point guard role at UP? Parang hindi. He plays as a 3 & as a 4.

I agree with U, modern day 4's are power forwards with wingmen skills. The traditional 4's with post up moves have become rare & irrelevant in modern day basketball.

But I strongly believe that in the point guard position, natural or legit point guards are irreplaceable. Diskumpyando talaga ako with natural shooting guards being converted or compelled to play as point guard. Of course there are exceptions like a Paul Lee, or a Stanley Pringle. We've seen such disaster during last year's 2023 World Cup game between Gilas & Angola where a stifling back court press resulted to turnovers by CJ Perez which resulted to easy fastbreaks by the Angolans. Those were crucial errors. Gilas was able to address the Angolan back court pressure when coach Chot fielded in Kiefer Ravena to bring down the ball. Still, we lost the game. Hindi nahirapan si Kiefer magdala ng bola becoz he is a natural point guard. The same could not be said about CJ Perez who we know is a natural wingman.

[JAMSKIE]

And there's nothing wrong with that. A 6'5"-6'6" PG is already gravy. It's good enough for the off-guard. As long as he can bring the ball up and initiate the offense as a combo guard, that's good enough.

As for Chicco, he's been an off-ball threat, a 3&D player, which is also good. We'll need more of those.

What I'm implying is, whenever a Pinoy blogger says this player plays as point guard (specially pag good size ang player like 6-foot-4 or over), I usually don't really take such words as they are. I just think that such player is a natural wingman with good ball handling & passing skills which give him the potential to play as a combo guard.

Of course I agree with you, 6-foot-4/6-foot-5 players playing as as off-guards or shooting guards are already very significant, well what more if such players can play as combo guards. As you've said, that's already gravy.

[IPC]

Does Chico Briones play some point guard role at UP? Parang hindi. He plays as a 3 & as a 4.

I agree with U, modern day 4's are power forwards with wingmen skills. The traditional 4's with post up moves have become rare & irrelevant in modern day basketball.

But I strongly believe that in the point guard position, natural or legit point guards are irreplaceable. Diskumpyando talaga ako with natural shooting guards being converted or compelled to play as point guard. We've seen such disaster during last year's 2023 World Cup game between Gilas & Angolo where a stifling back court press resulted to turnovers by CJ Perez which resulted to easy fastbreaks by the Angoloans. Those were crucial errors. Gilas was able to address the Angolan back court pressure when coach Chot fielded in Kiefer Ravena to bring down the ball. Still, we lost the game. Hindi nahirapan si Kiefer magdala ng bola becoz he is a natural point guard. The same could not be said about CJ Perez who we know is a natural wingman.

Chicco's played mostly 3 with UP. Rarely 4. It's either small ball or a stretch 4 with UP.

The PG issue here stems from the fact that the ballhandling and playmaking roles are exclusive to the PG position, when for the past few, ballhandling and playmaking duties have been with other positions elsewhere for years. Pippen and Jordan with the 90's Bulls, then today with LeBron, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Lamar Odom, Dwyane Wade, Draymond Green being able to handle playmaking and ballhandling duties in the NBA.

In Europe, there are big playmakers like Luka (when he played for Real Madrid), Milos Teodosic, Nick Calathes, but they're put at PG.

[IPC]

What I'm implying is, whenever a Pinoy blogger says this player plays as point guard (specially pag good size ang player like 6-foot-4 or over), I usually don't really take such words as they are. I just think that such player is a natural wingman with good ball handling & passing skills which give him the potential to play as a combo guard.

Of course I agree with you, 6-foot-4/6-foot-5 players playing as as off-guards or shooting guards are already very significant, well what more if such players can play as combo guards. As you've said, that's already gravy.

Agreed, let's see how. That's why it's imperative to first read scouting reports and watch how they play.

Pinoy bloggers talaga minsan, e, they tend to exaggerate for clicks. Gotta make a living, but man.

[JAMSKIE]

Chicco's played mostly 3 with UP. Rarely 4. It's either small ball or a stretch 4 with UP.

The PG issue here stems from the fact that the ballhandling and playmaking roles are exclusive to the PG position, when for the past few, ballhandling and playmaking duties have been with other positions elsewhere for years. Pippen and Jordan with the 90's Bulls, then today with LeBron, Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, Lamar Odom, Dwyane Wade, Draymond Green being able to handle playmaking and ballhandling duties in the NBA.

In Europe, there are big playmakers like Luka (when he played for Real Madrid), Milos Teodosic, Nick Calathes, but they're put at PG.

Well, ibang talent level naman kasi sina Lebron, Jordan, Pippen, Lamar Odom, Devin Booker & those Euroleague superstars. They are obviously way up there when you compare them to Pinoy players as well as other Asian players in terms of talent level & basketball I. Q.

I believe that Rayray Parks is capable of playing some point guard role since his ball handling & passing is exceptional, but did Parks play such role during his stint with Gilas?

[Rds]

Well, ibang talent level naman kasi sina Lebron, Jordan, Pippen, Lamar Odom, Devin Booker & those Euroleague superstars. They are obviously way up there when you compare them to Pinoy players as well as other Asian players in terms of talent level & basketball I. Q.

I believe that Rayray Parks is capable of playing some point guard role since his ball handling & passing is exceptional, but did Parks play such role during his stint with Gilas?

Rayray Parks is one of the big what ifs. A high NCAA recruit. He was a big guard with good defense. Probably couldve played combo guard or even PG in the US NCAA. But there are more important things in basketball. He played SF in the UAAP against bruising physical defense. He probably got his chronically injured shoulder there. And he has never been the same player. The guy is glass. Even in the times he plays well he will be injured after. The best example is the AFC semis against the Abueva powered Phoenix. Abueva was also up to the challenge. Matching him shot per shot even 3s. Until he played super nova/ import level. They won the series. But he was not the same in the finals and was injured after a couple of games.