Philippines Senior National Team Thread Vol. V

[sroth3839]

Let's wait & see when he will finally suits up with Gilas.
I remember when Dray Blatche was officially the naturalized player for Gilas, some expressed skepticism about Blatche' suspect defense becoz he was known in the NBA as a poor defender. But when he suited up for Gilas, especially in Asian level game, we've seen that he's not a bad defender. That his defense was good enough.

Also worth noting JC was also not known for his defense.

At the FIBA level, he did okay.

We won't be facing NBA talent level competition on a regular basis, so Bennie's defense shouldn't be too concerning at the FIBA Asia level.

[IPC]

Also worth noting JC was also not known for his defense.

At the FIBA level, he did okay.

We won't be facing NBA talent level competition on a regular basis, so Bennie's defense shouldn't be too concerning at the FIBA Asia level.

Thing with guys like JC and Bennie is that we need the players and the system to cover for them on the defensive end and to limit their responsibility there. Now, we have guys like Kai and AJ, even Japeth (for a shift) to defend the paint, while Scottie, Newsome, Dwight, and CJ can defend the perimeter.

We've given up a few big games to Asian teams also. 118-86 loss to SoKor in 2017 where they shot 44-66 from the field, 16-21 from 3, for one. That loss to Kazakhstan in the December 2018 window where they scored 92 points on 28-49 shooting (12-23 from 3). The SEA Games loss to Indonesia in 2022 where they scored 85 points on 26-55 shooting (13-31 from 3).

[JAMSKIE]

One thing more notable on our current Gilas team is that it is very versatile. It can go big (but slower) with a starting 5 of Fajardo, Kai, JB, Dwight Ramos & Newsome. This is really a big line up especially in the Asia-Oceania level. It can also go small (but quick & flexible) with AJ Edu, JB, Dwight, Newsome & Iskati.

This is quite a significant improvement from the past iterations of the national team. 10 years ago we have only 2 options as far as the size of our 5 players on the floor. We can go with a small line up, or we can go with even a smaller line-up.

If we compare our 2013-2015 Gilas under coach Chot Reyes with the current Gilas team under coach Tim Cone, we can see the significant diffeerence in terms of size.

[IPC]

One thing more notable on our current Gilas team is that it is very versatile. It can go big (but slower) with a starting 5 of Fajardo, Kai, JB, Dwight Ramos & Newsome. This is really a big line up especially in the Asia-Oceania level. It can also go small (but quick & flexible) with AJ Edu, JB, Dwight, Newsome & Iskati.

This is quite a significant improvement from the past iterations of the national team. 10 years ago we have only 2 options as far as the size of our 5 players on the floor. We can go with a small line up, or we can go with even a smaller line-up.

If we compare our 2013-2015 Gilas under coach Chot Reyes with the current Gilas team under coach Tim Cone, we can see the significant diffeerence in terms of size.

Come to think of it, a lot of our lineups then were actually big. We had a center like Douthit, Blatche, June Mar and a four like Ping, RDO, Troy, and even Japeth. Small in terms of being undersized (especially at the 3 when Pogoy, Abueva, and Thirdy played there), yes, but not really small in the sense that we played small ball. In my opinion, the basis of small ball is the skillsets of the players in the 4 and 5 spots. A wing or a four playing 5 (Draymond Green, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, AD), a wing playing the 4 spot (KD, Shane Battier, Shawn Marion), or both.

And like mathematician said, we didn't have the tools for small ball until recently. We just recently got small ball fours in Navarro, Malonzo, JB, and even Dwight (thankfully he's just a 2/3 now under Cone). Heck, Carl and AJ can be small ball fives (Carl has to improve his defense, though). Before then, I think 6'2" Abueva was our only small ball four.

[IPC]

Hoops Highlights reviewed 2024 for Gilas.

He mentioned defense, ball movement, and playing together as the pillars for this Gilas near the end of the video. Hope that becomes part of our team identity moving forward, especially defense.

[sroth3839]

Come to think of it, a lot of our lineups then were actually big. We had a center like Douthit, Blatche, June Mar and a four like Ping, RDO, Troy, and even Japeth. Small in terms of being undersized (especially at the 3 when Pogoy, Abueva, and Thirdy played there), yes, but not really small in the sense that we played small ball. In my opinion, the basis of small ball is the skillsets of the players in the 4 and 5 spots. A wing or a four playing 5 (Draymond Green, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, AD), a wing playing the 4 spot (KD, Shane Battier, Shawn Marion), or both.

And like mathematician said, we didn't have the tools for small ball until recently. We just recently got small ball fours in Navarro, Malonzo, JB, and even Dwight (thankfully he's just a 2/3 now under Cone). Heck, Carl and AJ can be small ball fives (Carl has to improve his defense, though). Before then, I think 6'2" Abueva was our only small ball four.

I’d like to see a small ball 5 of:

Bennie
Tamayo
KQ
Dwight
Newsome

This is true small ball. Not the midget ball of Chot.

[IPC]

I’d like to see a small ball 5 of:

Bennie
Tamayo
KQ
Dwight
Newsome

This is true small ball. Not the midget ball of Chot.

That small ball lineup could use some work on defense at the 3-5 positions. Hahahahahaha. Hopefully, Quiambao and Carl improve their defense. Dwight and Newsome are good perimeter defenders, though. I've seen Caruso and Lonzo anchor the Bulls defense in 2020-21.

Offensively, that lineup can shoot. Shot creators in Carl, Bennie, and even Dwight and Newsome. Dwight and Newsome can bring up the ball.

[lurklurk]

Come to think of it, a lot of our lineups then were actually big. We had a center like Douthit, Blatche, June Mar and a four like Ping, RDO, Troy, and even Japeth. Small in terms of being undersized (especially at the 3 when Pogoy, Abueva, and Thirdy played there), yes, but not really small in the sense that we played small ball. In my opinion, the basis of small ball is the skillsets of the players in the 4 and 5 spots. A wing or a four playing 5 (Draymond Green, Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, AD), a wing playing the 4 spot (KD, Shane Battier, Shawn Marion), or both.

And like mathematician said, we didn't have the tools for small ball until recently. We just recently got small ball fours in Navarro, Malonzo, JB, and even Dwight (thankfully he's just a 2/3 now under Cone). Heck, Carl and AJ can be small ball fives (Carl has to improve his defense, though). Before then, I think 6'2" Abueva was our only small ball four.

I'd argue Blatche is a small-ball 5, with his ballhandling, outside shooting, and preference on playing from the outside in. IMO, if Blatche played in the 90's he'll strictly play at the 4 spot.

[IPC]

I'd argue Blatche is a small-ball 5, with his ballhandling, outside shooting, and preference on playing from the outside in. IMO, if Blatche played in the 90's he'll strictly play at the 4 spot.

Oh, yeah, Blatche was a 4 in the NBA before we naturalized him.

So technically, we did play small ball when Blatche was our center. Hahahahaha.

[lurklurk]

Hoops Highlights reviewed 2024 for Gilas.

He mentioned defense, ball movement, and playing together as the pillars for this Gilas near the end of the video. Hope that becomes part of our team identity moving forward, especially defense.

The pillars are Tim Cone, Al Francis Chua and Erika Dy. I'd give these 3 a lot of credit.

[Silent Killer]

Arent you concern once boatwright becomes NP and QMB as local, tamayo and Kquiam wont get expose and wont get PT..

[JAMSKIE]

Arent you concern once boatwright becomes NP and QMB as local, tamayo and Kquiam wont get expose and wont get PT..

If that would make the team better/stronger, then I don't mind about it?

[Joe Yabuki]

Hoops Highlights reviewed 2024 for Gilas.

He mentioned defense, ball movement, and playing together as the pillars for this Gilas near the end of the video. Hope that becomes part of our team identity moving forward, especially defense.

Really nice to see Gilas top the asia cup qualifiers on assists, a nice change of pace from the 1 on 1 dribble drive of past Gilas

[IPC]

Arent you concern once boatwright becomes NP and QMB as local, tamayo and Kquiam wont get expose and wont get PT..

If that would make the team better/stronger, then I don't mind about it?

I think Sir SK has a valid concern. Our young core is a 23-year-old Carl and Quiambao, 22-year-old Kai, 24-year-old AJ, and 26-year-old Dwight Ramos (technically, 26 isn't that young in basketball terms, but still). Maybe 20-year-old Mason. The next-youngest after Dwight in the current 14-man pool is 28-year-old Jamie Malonzo, who's been injured since April.

We will need to expose our young core as much as possible to better strengthen our continuity, which has been an important part of our team chemistry.

[lurklurk]

Arent you concern once boatwright becomes NP and QMB as local, tamayo and Kquiam wont get expose and wont get PT..

Boatwright and QMB are essentially replacing rotation-players too in Brownlee and Fajardo/Edu. Tamayo and KQ will get their usual minutes, with upticks on playing time against the low-tier teams.