The Smart Gilas National Team is the first team in a long while which wasn’t formed a few months before  a big tournament. Being born in the early 90′s, the first national team that I can remember is the Centennial Team headed by Coach Tim Cone. This team had a good campaign in the Jones Cup and was able to bring home a bronze medal from the Asian Games (the last time we came home with a medal). The following international competition, we saw a heartbreaking loss to another Korean Team due to our missed free throws and their hot shooting. Then came the Powerade Team Pilipinas that featured high flying Cyrus Bagiuo as the only Filipino who really made an impact. We finished lowly in that tournament.

That same tournament also cemented the rise of the WABA teams which served also as a wake up call to the East Asian countries. If we refresh our senses, we can recall the teams, Qatar, Lebanon and Iran who have showed dominance over the other participants in that Fiba Asia tournament.

With this development, clearly it showed that something must be done, and yes, something was done. The Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team was formed. Recruiting the best of the best college hoop stars during that time, namely JV Casio, Chris Tiu, Mac Baracael, Andy Barroca, Dylan Ababou, Jason Ballesteros etc. This team hoped to mold these players into a system which was to be headed by Rajko Toroman who has led the Iranian National Team to the Olympics. Another part of the process which we shouldn’t forget is the recruitment of a big man whom we shall naturalize. We went from Sampson, to Giles and finally landed with a dependent and obedient Marcus Douthit. Compared to the big men recruited before, Marcus arguably has the best fundamentals and court vision making him the best fit to the system of Toroman.

Fast forward, we are 4th place in the just concluded Fiba Asia Championships.

Lesson #1:

With the right dedication and chemistry, even if we field in young kids, the Philippines has talent that can beat almost any team in Asia. Despite the fact that the players are not the best of the best in each position, we have gone so far with their international exposure and experience. Though being young may have brought them much pressure and succumb to the expectation to qualify during the Semi-Final game, they have played well and gave more than what they can. It was very clear that the Jordanian are playing a very much inspired basketball. In the game prep talk given by Sam Dahgles, we certainly can see that they’ve been here and done that. While for us, its our first time in a stage as big as this, and these are young players.

Lesson #2

PBA players are some of the most talented players available. Jimmy Alapag shooting threes, Kelly Williams following up dunks. These are 2 of the more common sights we have seen outside Ranidel’s steady penetration and assist. Imagine if we had PBA players molded into this system for the 3 years time? let me stop there.

Lesson #3

We must have a legit national team without an expiration date.

Clearly, we can be champions. We have the talent  but what we need is a system, not a coaching system, but a political system that can make us keep our team not for a one time big time, but for a long time. Despite the heartbreaks and not meeting the goal of reaching the Olympics, Gilas has made us proud and has made us believe once again that we are not only a basketball crazy nation, but we are crazy good as well. 9/25/2011