The Philippine National Men’s Basketball Team, fondly called Gilas, created shock waves at the recent Olympic Basketball Qualifiers, beating the world’s 6th-ranked Latvia in their very own home turf in the capital city of Riga 89-80. The historic upset win was a first-ever victory for the Philippines against a European team in 64 years. Their last triumph against a Euro quintet was way back in 1960 versus Spain, with the late Caloy Loyzaga leading our team.
The following game against Georgia, the Gilas squad bowed by a score of 96-94. With Latvia, the Philippines and Georgia tied at 1 win – 1 loss apiece, the tie was resolved via the quotient system. The Philippines placed second on account of a better quotient over Georgia. But the key element in that fateful loss was Kai Sotto’s exit after he injured his rib cage in a rebound tussle. Kai, the team’s primary rim protector who had proven effective against the Latvians, grimaced in pain as burly Georgian center, Goga Bitadze, fell on him as he lay on the ground, injuring his rib.
In the semis match-up against world’s 12th ranked Brazil, Gilas held its own in the 1st half, before collapsing big-time in the third canto, eventually losing to the South American stalwarts 71-60, and finally dashing the team’s dream for an Olympic slot. In the game, the Philippines missed a shaded-lane enforcer in Kai Sotto whose injury proved pivotal. Despite the loss, the team held on together, with the beleaguered JunMar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar playing a valiant role fending off the taller, beefier Brazilians.
But reaching the semifinals in the Qualifying Tournament was certainly a big achievement. If Sotto had not been injured earlier, there is no telling where the team would have reached. Coach Tim Cone has instilled a winning philosophy with the team. It started with the Asian Games surprise gold medal finish, and it continues to this day.
No longer is the team intimidated by the big burly bodies the Europeans and the other teams bring to the competition, our Gilas fighters now have become more intelligent, more team-oriented, to offset the huge size advantage the other teams have over them. Dwight Ramos, CJ Perez and Chris Newsome refuse to be intimidated by their European defenders, and this has led to more successful incursions as well as isolation 3-pt shots.
To develop a strategy for a smaller team like the Philippines to compete with taller teams in Olympic basketball, several key aspects need to be considered – conditioning, defense, speed, agility, shooting accuracy, and teamwork.
On Conditioning and Endurance. The height disadvantage can be diminished by focusing on conditioning and endurance training to keep a high level of performance throughout the game. We need to emphasize cardiovascular conditioning, strength training, and agility drills to enhance players’ endurance and stamina. A well-conditioned team can maintain a fast-paced game and outlast taller opponents in the late stages of the game. In the game against Brazil, without Kai Sotto helping underneath, the beleaguered JunMar Fajardo simply burned out in the third quarter in the fight for supremacy underneath the basket.
On Creating a Defensive Strategy. Our defensive strategy focuses on pressure defense, quick rotations, and help defense to compensate for the height disadvantage. Coach Tim has been able to use the full-court press, half-court traps, and zone defense to disrupt taller opponents’ offensive rhythm and force turnovers.
On Teamwork and Communication. Coach Tim has emphasized teamwork and communication on both offense and defense. Movement without the ball – quite evident in the triangle offense – is important, as well as setting screens, and creating open passing lanes to generate scoring opportunities. Communication on defense needs to be enhanced to ensure proper switches, help defense, and rotations to disrupt taller opponents’ offensive flow.
On speed and agility. Apart from conditioning and endurance, speed and agility training is important to compensate for the height disadvantage. The team needs to focus on quickness, lateral movement, and explosive acceleration to outmaneuver taller opponents. There are certain drills such as ladder drills, cone drills, and agility hurdles to improve footwork and reaction time. CJ Perez comes to mind as we talk of explosive sprints to our homecourt.
On shooting accuracy and efficiency. As the world is trending towards the 3-pt basket, there is a need to develop a strong emphasis on shooting accuracy and efficiency. We need to work on developing quick-release shots and precision shooting to capitalize on open shooting opportunities. Focus on mid-range jump shots, three-point shooting, and free throw accuracy to maximize scoring potential. Our South Korean counterparts were the first to introduce the 3-point shot as the vital weapon in their arsenal, beating the behemoths of China in the 90s. In the NBA, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson pioneered the aggressive use of the 3-pt shot. Today, the NBA Champs Boston Celtics has introduced a system with all 5 players capable of hitting 3-pt bombs, including their centers Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford. No longer are guards or wingmen alone allowed to shoot the 3-ball.
On fastbreak opportunities. There is a need to capitalize on fastbreak opportunities to score quick points and exploit the taller team’s speed disadvantage. Encourage players to push the ball in transition, look for quick scoring opportunities, and exploit mismatches before taller opponents can set up their defense. Again, it is CJ Perez who can best embody this in the Philippine team.
On scouting and game preparation. Conduct thorough scouting of opponents to identify weaknesses and exploit potential mismatches. Develop a game plan that maximizes the smaller team’s strengths while minimizing the impact of the taller opponents’ advantages. Focus on executing the game plan with precision and adaptability based on in-game situations.
On developing mental toughness and resilience. Instill a sense of mental toughness and resilience in the team to overcome adversity and challenges during games. Encourage players to stay focused, keep composure, and believe in their abilities to compete against taller opponents. Develop a winning mentality that values effort, determination, and teamwork above all else.
Gilas may have faltered in its quest this year, but there are clear signs of improvement, with the team now no longer intimidated by the beef and bulk of the other teams. By emphasizing conditioning, defense, teamwork, speed, agility, shooting accuracy, fast break opportunities, scouting, game preparation, and mental toughness, a smaller team like Gilas can effectively compete with taller teams in Olympic basketball.
Cover photo courtesy of ABS-CBN News. Other photos courtesy of Rappler, Inquirer.net, ABS-CBN News, Gilas Pilipinas Basketball and GMA Network. For a closer look, just click on the pics.
Color My World 