Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[Joe Yabuki]

If only Kevin Quiambao started playing as a wing (as a small forward to be soecific) at an earlier age, he would be a significantly better player, as a national team player in particular. The recent season 87 of the UAAP showed how limited KQ's moves in the perimeter becoz he played as a big man at an early age. If only he started playing as a wingman some 7 yrs ago, I think he would be more fluid playing that position now.

If you look at it, iba pa rin yung mga galaw ng natural wingmen like a Dwight Ramos, a Calvin Oftana (this despite Oftana's struggle with Gilas) or a Ken Tuffin. These guys are a lot more fluid in their moves in the perimeter.

even if College development has improved on some schools, grassroots is still very much antiquated in development.

[Silent Killer]

even if College development has improved on some schools, grassroots is still very much antiquated in development.

now if we can use that blue print to our youth.. they can use the tamayo blue print or a Kquiam blue print..

[ccharmed]

For the minimum pool for Feb 2025 in New Zealand, and onwards to Dec 2025:

Kai -- 7'3"
Abai -- 6'11"
Qmb -- 6'10"
Aj -- 6'10"

Carl -- 6'7" // Amos -- '6'7"
Brownlee -- 6'6" // Boatwright -- 6'10"

Oftana -- 6'5" // Malonzo -- 6'6"
Kq -- 6'4"
Ramos -- 6'4"

Perez -- 6'2" // Heading -- 6'2"
Newsome -- 6'2"
Thompson -- 6'1"

This pool definitely belongs to fiba top 30 nts. They can even nake it to top 20, as other countries will always have problems in forming their very best nt.

Malonzo is needed in a special case to guard against master chef corey webster and his lamb chops home cooking. Machine gun heading is required where stagnation of offense is concerning. A replacement elite defender is likely needed to replace newsome by late 2025. It has to be someone liked by both cone and chua.

As for grassroots development, forget it. The best athletic big boys will still be mostly developed through the uaap/ ncaa route. 99% of promising players either cant get into a good high school program, or are too poor to hire or play against former elite nt players to build explosive skills at the level of kq and lopez.

[JAMSKIE]

I share the same sentiments with Carl Tamayo as well. I remember saying before that he should train as a 2-guard even if he will mostly be used as a 3 or 4. Hopefully both can still develop and improve their guard skills because both are very great prospects and should aim to have a complete game offensively and defensively.

Well, at least Carl Tamayo is almost 6-foot-7 on barefoot, hence he's a good size "four" in Asia-Oceania level. KQ on the other hand is only around 6-foot-5 at best on barefoot (I think he's around 6-foot-4 & a half barefoot) which is undersized for a "four" therefore he has to play as a 3 or a small forward.

The positive thing I see in KQ is that he's still young at 23 yrs of age, hence he still can improve his wingman skills - dribbling, outside shooting, perimeter defense (no need to improve his passing becoz his passing is already exceptional). Hope KQ would further improve his wingman skills in his stint in the KBL.

I think KQ missing a lot of 3-pt shots with La Salle was because those (or majority of which) were forced or difficult shots. I can't blame KQ for that becoz he is the team's go-to-guy & he was given license by coach Topex Robinson to take those kind of shots. It would be different in the Gilas setting in which JB is the go-to-guy & there are a lot of offensive options in the team. KQ can play the role of a spot up shooter much like the role he played with the Strong Group Athletics team in the Dubai International tournament last January where KQ really played impressively, especially 3-pt shooting.

[Dotch]

No love for Francis Lopez?

Superfreak 6'5 guy but he's not Kobe Paras 2.0. Well, at least he is now a proven winner. Consensus say he's a highly athletic but low IQ player, but If Tim Cone can fix Japhet, no doubt he can work on the player formerly known as "Lebron" Lopez.

[IPC]

No love for Francis Lopez?

Superfreak 6'5 guy but he's not Kobe Paras 2.0. Well, at least he is now a proven winner. Consensus say he's a highly athletic but low IQ player, but If Tim Cone can fix Japhet, no doubt he can work on the player formerly known as "Lebron" Lopez.

I saw this past UAAP season that Lopez can defend. He just needs to develop the skillset of a 3/2 at 6'5". Shooting, and at least enough handles to attack a closeout.

[lurklurk]

Well, at least Carl Tamayo is almost 6-foot-7 on barefoot, hence he's a good size "four" in Asia-Oceania level. KQ on the other hand is only around 6-foot-5 at best on barefoot (I think he's around 6-foot-4 & a half barefoot) which is undersized for a "four" therefore he has to play as a 3 or a small forward.

The positive thing I see in KQ is that he's still young at 23 yrs of age, hence he still can improve his wingman skills - dribbling, outside shooting, perimeter defense (no need to improve his passing becoz his passing is already exceptional). Hope KQ would further improve his wingman skills in his stint in the KBL.

I think KQ missing a lot of 3-pt shots with La Salle was because those (or majority of which) were forced or difficult shots. I can't blame KQ for that becoz he is the team's go-to-guy & he was given license by coach Topex Robinson to take those kind of shots. It would be different in the Gilas setting in which JB is the go-to-guy & there are a lot of offensive options in the team. KQ can play the role of a spot up shooter much like the role he played with the Strong Group Athletics team in the Dubai International tournament last January where KQ really played impressively, especially 3-pt shooting.

Same concept, skills-training or lack thereof in an early age because a coach pigeon-holed them to a specific position kinda pre-determined their limit. Carl was just lucky he grew an additional 2 inches compared to Kevin that he became a good-sized 4 for the Asia-Pacific region instead of a good sized 4 for southeast asia region.

[BJ_Reloaded]

as a child watching all those old clips(with commercials) of NCC games, 89 Season of the PBA, RP Team among others recorded by my uncles, elder cousins(kuyas) and friends(mga may kaya sa buhay) using that old tech platform of Beta and VHS and some jurassic gadgets.

at that time even though I cannot figure it out, my impression for Hector The Director and Sen. Big J is that they are not being outplayed nor being schooled by their elite counter-part from the other nation.

a John Stockton comparison, well in some degree yes, I totally agree, no argument on that.

as I previously mentioned, we haven't had that "eliteness of a PG" from the current cycle that could match-up mano-a-mano with the likes Wael, Webster bros., the Yuki's among others.

Scotty 2 Hotty and the Blitz had the advantage bec. they know the system.

Jordan and Schonny are eligible but not yet proven.

SJ Belangel, JGDL Panopio, Stockton among others are still a long shot but if several of them will be included in the coming 2025, 2027 SEAG and 2026 AG..let's see.

Gemao and Alas are still babies..but adding that "generational talent thing", well, they haven't achieve any impactful moments on PHI national team

JJ kid and Dylan H had already carved that "impactful moments in a sanctioned tourney donning Team USA but not yet eligible for Gilas Senior,

it's very hard to ignore nor bypass the skill sets of those hafus as far as being a "Floor General" on the international level.

surely, investing on elite talents for a long term basis is a no brainer if there is an existing options in the current guidebook that our stakeholders may somehow invoke or use

to form that elite line-up we could parade against those higher rank teams.

[Joe Yabuki]

No love for Francis Lopez?

Superfreak 6'5 guy but he's not Kobe Paras 2.0. Well, at least he is now a proven winner. Consensus say he's a highly athletic but low IQ player, but If Tim Cone can fix Japhet, no doubt he can work on the player formerly known as "Lebron" Lopez.

Ive been critical or him but hes fine he does his job but has some glaring weaknesses, id like him to have a go in PBA first and watch him perform against imports, then we'll see if hes ready. As of now I dont think he should be occupying the space of guys like Will Navarro or Ken Tuffin who are much higher in the Gilas list.

[BJ_Reloaded]

I think this coming Feb. window it's better to expose Kevin in the PG spots from time to time against those Websters.

surely he will be schooled most of the time by that cry baby and his younger bro but acquiring all the needed experience and reps is a good opportunity

considering the team are already qualified for that bigger goal.

experimenting on new combinations and sequence against a higher rank team like TB would be a perfect situation considering the narrative of NZL nowadays is

"no upsets on our backyard" storyline.

if indeed QMB's ph docs are properly in order then it's a no brainer.

let AK34 occupy that reinforcement slot for now and let AJ and JB be available for the main event instead.

giving Jordan Heading and Mason Amos to be included is must as well for more familiarity and reps.

if Balti already settled then adding him for that propose additional 2 or 3 slots as per Grandpa Chualay's online interview is a perfect move

and hopefully that allegedly cold war(?) on the Corleones-Lannisters may not affect his possible inclusion.

[lurklurk]

I think this coming Feb. window it's better to expose Kevin in the PG spots from time to time against those Websters.

surely he will be schooled most of the time by that cry baby and his younger bro but acquiring all the needed experience and reps is a good opportunity

considering the team are already qualified for that bigger goal.

experimenting on new combinations and sequence against a higher rank team like TB would be a perfect situation considering the narrative of NZL nowadays is

"no upsets on our backyard" storyline.

if indeed QMB's ph docs are properly in order then it's a no brainer.

let AK34 occupy that reinforcement slot for now and let AJ and JB be available for the main event instead.

giving Jordan Heading and Mason Amos to be included is must as well for more familiarity and reps.

if Balti already settled then adding him for that propose additional 2 or 3 slots as per Grandpa Chualay's online interview is a perfect move

and hopefully that allegedly cold war(?) on the Corleones-Lannisters may not affect his possible inclusion.

I'd include Boatwright as well if we're going this route.

[alfrancis]

No love for Francis Lopez?

Superfreak 6'5 guy but he's not Kobe Paras 2.0. Well, at least he is now a proven winner. Consensus say he's a highly athletic but low IQ player, but If Tim Cone can fix Japhet, no doubt he can work on the player formerly known as "Lebron" Lopez.

Personnally, I would prefer Bayla than Lopez for development. He can be a future alternative to Newsome, Perez or Ramos while Lopez plays 3, a position we have a long list in the pipeline (Navarro, Tuffin, Harris etc.) not to mention those in the current roster.

[JAMSKIE]

I saw this past UAAP season that Lopez can defend. He just needs to develop the skillset of a 3/2 at 6'5". Shooting, and at least enough handles to attack a closeout.

I think Lopez playing the 3 spot is the more realistic expectation. Nice to hear from U that Lopez has become a decent defender. Also, I think his 3-point shooting has somewhat improved.

I'm thinking of Lopez following the footstep of Jamie Monzo. I think these players have some similarity - both are athletic, almost of the same size, & with same skill set. Right now, Malonzo has the better shooting & basketball I. Q, but Monzo is already 28 while Lopez is only 21. I think when Malonzo was in his early 20's his 3 pt shooting was also suspect & his basketball savvy wasn't that high. It was only when he entered the PBA that Malonzo really improved his shooting & basketball I. Q.

I think Lopez should really work so hard to improve his ball handling & shooting. He should focus on the basic fundamentals of basketball. It's great to hear that Lopez has improved in defense.

[reamily]

Lopez is more cj perez replacement.. has the first step to the left..Imagine 6'5 cj perez/abassi thats why chot gilas he was always in the lineup

[JAMSKIE]

Lopez is more cj perez replacement.. has the first step to the left..Imagine 6'5 cj perez/abassi thats why chot gilas he was always in the lineup

CJ Perez is a natural 2-guard while Lopez is more of a combo forward whose outside shooting & ball handling aren't not yet that good to play as a legit wing guy. The closest Lopez can be as a wingman is by playing as a small forward. He isn't in the same boat as with the likes of a Calvin Oftana or a Will Navarro or a Ken Tuffin as far as wingman skills are concerned. Well, at least not yet.