THERE is no doubt that Gilas Pilipinas is a dominant force in Southeast Asian basketball particularly in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the Southeast Asia Basketball Association (Seaba).
Figures don't lie, however, and in the Fiba Asia ranking, the Philippines still ranks fifth behind China, Iran, South Korea, and Jordan.
With this in mind, the road to Rio de Janiero in 2016 Summer Olympics is expected not to be a joy ride. Unless a miracle happens, this basketball-crazy country is not sure to dribble all the way to Brazil.
For 43 years, our Filipino cagers were not able to step on the mahogany court of an Olympic host. The last was in 1972 Munich Olympics in Germany where we finished 13th over-all. Coach Tito Eduque and his all stars Robert Jaworski, Freddie Webb, Manny Paner, Yoyong Martirez, Jimmy Mariano, Tembong Melencio, Francis Arnaiz, Orly Bauzon, Big Boy Reynoso, Ed Ocampo, Danny Florencio and Rudolf Kutch (hope my memory serves me right) can only do so much.
The best finish by a Philippine team was in 1936 in Berlin where we landed fifth over-all with Caloy Loyzaga and Lauro Mumar.
The other editions of the Olympics which the Filipinos qualified were in 1948 – United Kingdom, 1952 – Finland, 1956 - Australia, 1960 – Rome, and 1968 – Mexico.
In Fiba Asia Championship, the Philippines won the gold medals five times – in 1960 (Manila), 1963 (Taiwan), 1967 (South Korea), 1973 (Manila) and 1985 (Malaysia). Thrice we ended up silver – 1965 (Malaysia), 1971 (Japan) and two years ago in Manila.
China, the Sleeping Giant, silently accumulated 15 championship titles since it joined in 1975 while Iran has three.
rThe upcoming Fiba Asia Championship in Changsha-Hunan, China on September 23-October 3 will be a tough task for Gilas who must be "matikas at magilas" in order to survive.
American-New Zealander Tab Balwin, the new Philippines head coach, is challenged to win the Fiba Asia to automatically qualify in next year’s Olympics – a dream seemingly impossible after more than 4 decades.
To achieve Gilas’ goal to win an outright spot in the Olympics means the need to have a dominant squad – a mixture of veterans and rookies in the PBA with international experience.
As we have lots of basketball experts and coaches in their own right, some would surely pick or propose (if given a right) 2014 Fiba World Cup campaigners Jayson Castro (5’10”) and Paul Lee (6’0”) as well as 2014 Fiba 3x3 World Tour top player Terence Romeo (5’11) to man the back court.
Talk N’ Text (TNT) Tropang Texters playmaker Castro, named Asia’s best point guard, currently averages 19 points per game (ppg), 4 rebounds, 5 assists and a steal.
Rain or Shine (RoS) Elasto Painters point guard Lee averages 14 ppg, 4 boards, 3 assists and a steal.
Global Ports’ Romeo has an average of 24 ppg, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and a steal.
Shooting guards can be TNT gunners Larry Fonacier (6’2”) and PBA D-League’s Ray Bobby Parks Jr. (6’4”) who was invited to work out with the Utah Jazz, Brooklyn Nets, Dallas Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks, and Boston Celtics.
The sweet shooting Fonacier, averages 10 ppg but has a shooting percentage of 40 percent beyond the arc and Seaba MVP Parks averages 20 ppg and 7 boards.
The small forward spots can be given to 2014 World Cup player and ROS standout Gabe Norwood (6’5), TNT’s Matt Ganuelas-Rosser (6’5) and Star Hotshot’s Joe de Vance (6’7).
Norwood is definitely a defensive asset for Gilas as proven in last year’s World Cup. He can also deliver points while Ganuelas-Rosser is not new having been part of the national squad which won the 2012 Jones Cup in Taiwan. He is also a 50 percent three-point shooter, has a good touch at 75 percent field goal and a defensive player too with an average of 1 block per game.
And, one of the underrated small forward is De Vance which averages 11 ppg with an impressive 44 percent shooting beyond the rainbow territory.
To match the heights of defending champion Iran and powerhouse China, Jun Mar Fajardo (6’11”) of San Miguel Beermen, averages 16 ppg, 13 boards and a block per game while Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ 7’1” behemoth Greg Slaughter averages 10 ppg and 7 boards.
The 6’11” naturalized Andray Blatche, can also play a multi-role position. He has an impressive 31 ppg performance while playing for the Xinjiang Flying Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association with an average of 15 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals per game.
The 42-year-old 6’9” slotman Asi Taulava has represented the Philippine flag in many international competition. He averages 16 ppg and grab 10 boards, numbers good enough for a tough big man who can play the 4 or 5 position.
How about the young guards – Kiefer Ravena (6’0”), Mark Barroca (5’11”), Jeff Chan (6’3”) and James Yap (6’3”); and forwards – Calvin Abueva (6’3”), Arwind Santos (6’4), Jared Dillenger (6’5”), Marc Pingris (6’5”), Ranidel de Ocampo (6’6”), Kelly Williams (6’7”) and Japeth Aguilar (6’9”).
For the Philippines to earn a spot in Olympic basketball and regain its dominance in the Asian continent is not an easy task. It may be just as difficult as what the country is encountering now in the South China Sea.
Gilas needs all the firepower it can muster and finish the job.
Short of saying, destroy the enemy? No guts, no glory.