With the FIBA World Cup 2023 just days away from kicking off, speculations have heightened as Coach Chot Reyes and his staff struggle to complete the Philippine Team line-up. At present, there remain 16 of the country’s best cagers battling it out for the honor to represent the Philippines. It’s a difficult job identifying who stays and who goes, with everyone giving their all and showing that they truly deserve to be part of this elite team.
Of course, fans have joined the fray as the countdown for the games nears its end. It has become a big thing in itself, naming the members of the team, but it has also become a distraction of sorts to the staff and the players. Apart from conjuring plays and patterns for the big competition ahead, they have to divide their focus on another sideshow – which could derail your plays and patterns by the way – that of naming the team members this close to the competition. There will be pros and cons to why the team line-up had to be announced just right before the games. But I believe that the cons far outweigh the pros.
I believe that this team’s line-up should have been announced earlier so that stability and cohesion can be developed seamlessly. As it is right now, some players in the final 16 will have slightly different outlooks as they compete for the limited slots. As opposed to focusing on how to jell with the rest of the members of the team, and how to win games as a team, he will first look at how to make himself look good in order to make the team. Teamwork is not optimized as players hesitate in certain situations. Do I give up the ball to someone who could compete for my position? Or should I just try to showcase my individual talent at this point?
There is a big difference when you’re playing for the team, and playing for yourself. Like it or not, if you’re competing for a position in the team, there is instability and loss of focus, no matter how slight. And the valuable time lost in these intramurals – time that could have been better used further developing teamwork – is a lost opportunity. If you look at past champion teams like Spain and Argentina, the players have been together for the longest time. ASpanish player, interviewed after Spain won the last World Cup, singled out cohesion and chemistry brought by years of playing together as the key ingredients to their success. Even the US team of NBA stars was named way ahead of ours. Team USA, with so much talent to choose from, saw the value of finalizing the team line-up early in order to have time to jell. Other heavyweight teams found it a must as well. I don’t see why the Philippines doesn’t do so as well. To surprise the competition? What big surprise can we come up with at this point? This team should have been finalized months ago, that’s all there is to it. That’s my 2-cents worth on the delay in naming the final line-up.
But that’s water under the bridge now. Nothing we can undo at this point. Having said that, who do you think deserve slots in the line-up?
My shoo-ins to make the team are: bigs Kai Sotto, June Mar Fajardo, AJ Edu and Japeth Aguilar, plus Jordan Clarkson, Scottie Thompson, Dwight Ramos. That said, I still have 5 slots up for grabs. I then look at what I believe are the team’s priority needs and what each candidate can provide. And I look at positional versatility, athleticism, with a focus on defense. Laterals for maximum wing coverage, and help in protecting the shaded area since we are clearly a smaller team.
With only 4 bigs identified, I’d pick more versatile guys who can switch from the off guard to the power forward slots. In a world slowly moving to positionless ball, we need guys who can help in the interior defense, protect the wings; while on the offense, can drive strong to the hoop or take the outside shot if need be. Hence, I’m taking Jamie Malonzo, Renz Abando and Calvin Oftana. All 3 can play great defense at the wings while giving the bigs a helping hand with the rebounds. All three are offensive threats as slashers or outside snipers as well. The last 2 slots I’d give to Bobby Ray Parks, as primary reliever to Clarkson at the 2 slot; and I’d take CJ Perez over Kiefer Ravena the last slot at 1, mainly because CJ has better help-defense over Kiefer. My first 5 would be Sotto at 5, Fajardo at 4, Abando at 3, Clarkson at 2 and Thompson at 1.
I have nothing against the 4 outstanding players I have scratched from the list. They are all talented, no doubt, and experienced. But at this point, everyone is expected to be talented and experienced. And with Jordan Clarkson in, the experience factor is already there in abundance. I took out Roger Pogoy and Kiefer Ravena due to the preponderance of PGs with Scottie, Dwight and CJ manning the fort. I took out Chris Newsome and Thirdy Ravena as I felt that Abando, Malonzo and Oftana were taller, bulkier and more athletic. I had a hard time picking the younger Oftana over Thirdy, but Oftana is taller and can shoot the 3-ball better as well.
The FIBA World Cup is all set to start this August 25. The Philippines will be squaring off with the Dominican Republic in the kick-off game. We hope the team performs credibly, and we hope that the home crowd is there in hordes to cheer them on. Go, go Gilas!!!
Cover photo courtesy of NBA.com. Other pics courtesy of Inquirer.net, GMA Network, Spin.ph, Gilas Pilipinas Basketbal, Tiebreaker Times, One Sports, Daily Guardian, ESPN Phil,Philippine Star, FIBA Basketball World Cuo 2023, BusinessWorld Online, FIBA, and the Manila Bulletin. For a closer look, just click on the pics.
Color My World 