FIBA ASIA Cup Qualifiers

[JAMSKIE]

I concur. We need a plan as soon as now.

Good news is, B.League and KBL are on break by the February 2024 window. UAAP/NCAA season is over. We can call up the players from there while the PBA is ongoing. And we need a coaching staff that can install a decent system and winning mentality.

This is our chance to develop a young core.

That B-league takes a 2-week break during a qualifying window, eh given na yan considering that the Japanese also need to prepare their national team for the window qualifiers. They have been doing that since the new format of FIBA tournament qualification had been changed some years ago.

While I'm confident of beating Hongkong in February, I'm wary of Taiwan which has some good young players in the team. And with our team expected to have only about 12 days to prepare before our 1st game, then there's the question of who will be our coach & naturalized player, we really can't take Chinese Taipei lightly.

[IPC]

That B-league takes a 2-week break during a qualifying window, eh given na yan considering that the Japanese also need to prepare their national team for the window qualifiers. They have been doing that since the new format of FIBA tournament qualification had been changed some years ago.

While I'm confident of beating Hongkong in February, I'm wary of Taiwan which has some good young players in the team. And with our team expected to have only about 12 days to prepare before our 1st game, then there's the question of who will be our coach & naturalized player, we really can't take Chinese Taipei lightly.

As for head coach, time to go with a good one. Lots of good coaches out there. Charles Tiu, Goldwin Monteverde, Jeff Napa, Topex Robinson, maybe Randy Alcantara of Mapua. Need a foreigner like Rajko Toroman to backstop these locals.

As for NP, I think Ange is our best bet, even with the short training time (his last game with Chartres before the window is February 19, Philippine time). Otherwise, All-Filipino tayo.

[JAMSKIE]

As for head coach, time to go with a good one. Lots of good coaches out there. Charles Tiu, Goldwin Monteverde, Jeff Napa, Topex Robinson, maybe Randy Alcantara of Mapua. Need a foreigner like Rajko Toroman to backstop these locals.

As for NP, I think Ange is our best bet, even with the short training time (his last game with Chartres before the window is February 19, Philippine time). Otherwise, All-Filipino tayo.

I just wonder if SBP considers anyone among the coaches you mentioned? Or maybe Al Panlilio is still considering public enemy No. 1 Chot Reyes for the job in February. I hope not. Enough of coach Chot please.

[IPC]

I just wonder if SBP considers anyone among the coaches you mentioned? Or maybe Al Panlilio is still considering public enemy No. 1 Chot Reyes for the job in February. I hope not. Enough of coach Chot please.

We will be in for a long rebuild if Chot is the coach. Chot's not the guy to trust veterans a bit too much.

He's served us well. He should rest from the NT now.

[IPC]

I'm almost sure there won't be any overseas Pinoy players since,they're still on a high that they can win without them just the PBA/SMC best and they won't deviate on this plan until they lose all the games.

Availability of PBA players for the February window is a question mark.

Since its SMC is in charge,its not hard to avail all their player even the hated Mikey Williams.They will perform a miracle of the PBA doing all kinds of adjustments,its cheaper than paying the overseas guys their worth.

Again, Chua's really open to the overseas guys. It's Vargas who's the one who's fine with all PBA players and no overseas players, despite the fact that the Asiad rotation had an average age of 31, and the roster had an average age of 31.7.

That's one way to hasten to a rebuild from scratch, because chemistry will be an issue all over again.

Now, let's see if they stick with an older rotation again. Most of the useful PBA players are 30 and above.

I think the useful PBA players for FIBA are as follows:

1988 (35): Brownlee (NP, availability pending), Abueva
1989 (34): June Mar
1990 (33): Newsome
1991 (32): Alas (injured)
1992 (31): Terrence
1993 (30): Scottie, Perez
1995 (28): Bolick
1996 (27): Oftana, Malonzo (injured), Black
1997 (26): Navarro (injured), Tuffin
1998 (25): Winston

This is a good rotation for now. But as we can see, they're aging. We need to develop a team that can play for 2027 as early as now, para at least OK na ang chemistry. Plus, there's a massive hole at PF. We need to develop our PF position. Best bets for that are AJ, Carl, and Mason, all of whom are outside the PBA.

[ja.he]

Well, Gilas can send a team mixed with PBA and overseas players.

PBA can send some players from Terrafirma, Phoenix, Converge, and ROS with Meralco and TNT.

PBA

- Tuffin
- Ricci
- Winston
- Arana
- Mamuyac
- Oftana
- Black
- Javi
- Carino

Overseas

- Dwight
- Parks
- Edu
- Kouame
- RJ
- SJ
- Juan
- Dave I
- Abando
- Gutang
- Tamayo

This pool is enough to beat Taipei and Hong Kong.

[ARMIR]

Now, let's see if they stick with an older rotation again. Most of the useful PBA players are 30 and above.

I think the useful PBA players for FIBA are as follows:

1988 (35): Brownlee (NP, availability pending), Abueva
1989 (34): June Mar
1990 (33): Newsome
1991 (32): Alas (injured)
1992 (31): Terrence
1993 (30): Scottie, Perez
1996 (27): Oftana, Malonzo (injured), Black
1997 (26): Navarro (injured)

This is a good rotation for now. But as we can see, they're aging. We need to develop a team that can play for 2027 as early as now, para at least OK na ang chemistry. Plus, there's a massive hole at PF. We need to develop our PF position. Best bets for that are AJ, Carl, and Mason, all of whom are outside the PBA.

This is probably the lineup that the SMC and Chua would be going for,with maybe a comebacking Bolick and Mikey W too.

[IPC]

This is probably the lineup that the SMC and Chua would be going for,with maybe a comebacking Bolick and Mikey W too.

Thanks for reminding me on Bolick. Mikey's ineligible and is 32, but we can use an NP.

Long-term wise, I don't get the sense of forcing a lineup composed of mostly aging/old players, especially if it's against Taiwan and Hong Kong. Unless, the PBA can be open to some of their younger players playing in the windows. Schonny and Tuffin can contribute, and maybe Mamuyac and Tio can be potentially good pieces. Maybe Arana if he can play PF in FIBA. At 6'6" without shoes and a 6'9" wingspan, his size is best for 4.

[IPC]

Well, Gilas can send a team mixed with PBA and overseas players.

PBA can send some players from Terrafirma, Phoenix, Converge, and ROS with Meralco and TNT.

PBA

- Tuffin
- Ricci
- Winston
- Arana
- Mamuyac
- Oftana
- Black
- Javi
- Carino

Overseas

- Dwight
- Parks
- Edu
- Kouame
- RJ
- SJ
- Juan
- Dave I
- Abando
- Gutang
- Tamayo

This pool is enough to beat Taipei and Hong Kong.

I see Arana becoming a contributor if he can defend the PF position, and has the foot speed to close out on the perimeter, defend the PnR, and keep up with guards. He just might become a right-handed version of Ian Sangalang in FIBA if he's just exclusively a low-post operator.

[JAMSKIE]

IPC


I haven't seen much of Justin Arana's game, but in the few games of Converge that I've watched it seems he doesn't have a 3-pt shot. But if he does have a medium range shot (15 to 18-foot jumper), then that's good. Also, I've seen his stats & his rebounding average is impressive. For instance, in last season's Philippine Cup, he averaged 7.8 rebs. per game in only 23 minutes per game.

[IPC]

IPC


I haven't seen much of Justin Arana's game, but in the few games of Converge that I've watched it seems he doesn't have a 3-pt shot. But if he does have a medium range shot (15 to 18-foot jumper), then that's good. Also, I've seen his stats & his rebounding average is impressive. For instance, in last season's Philippine Cup, he averaged 7.8 rebs. per game in only 23 minutes per game.

It's his defense I'm a bit concerned with, not really the offensive skillset. At 6'7" in shoes, he has to be mobile to go along with his strength.

[JAMSKIE]

Thanks for reminding me on Bolick. Mikey's ineligible and is 32, but we can use an NP.

Long-term wise, I don't get the sense of forcing a lineup composed of mostly aging/old players, especially if it's against Taiwan and Hong Kong. Unless, the PBA can be open to some of their younger players playing in the windows. Schonny and Tuffin can contribute, and maybe Mamuyac and Tio can be potentially good pieces. Maybe Arana if he can play PF in FIBA. At 6'6" without shoes and a 6'9" wingspan, his size is best for 4.

I think its the thought of a poster here that after Gilas' gold medal finish in the 2023 Asian Games basketball, PBA & SBP would decide to send a PBA-select Gilas team to the 1st window of the Asia Cup qualifiers & won't enlist any B-league players in the Gilas team.

I think it would be an unwise decision by the SBP & PBA if they will force a PBA-select national team in February while ignoring all those B-league Gilas players. Gilas fans would cry foul if guys like Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Rhenz Abando (of KBL), etc., would be left out.

[Metta]

I think Arana was already with UST seniors in 2015, how old is he?

His strength is literally strength. Would be good to test if he could translate that internationally soon.

[hmbopbaduwap]

I think Arana was already with UST seniors in 2015, how old is he?

His strength is literally strength. Would be good to test if he could translate that internationally soon.

24 years old

https://basketball.realgm.com/player/Justin-Arana/Summary/199404

[ja.he]

I think Arana was already with UST seniors in 2015, how old is he?

His strength is literally strength. Would be good to test if he could translate that internationally soon.

I think he can do well against Taipei and Hong Kong. His serious test will come from the Tall Blacks.