The Kids are Alright

     So, the 2010 Jones Cup has concluded and to no one's surprise, Iran came out on top, yet again.  The Philippines' Smart GIlas, ended up 4th, toting an even 3-3 record.  Looking at the Gilas website, seeing all the panicked, doomsday-like proclamations of supposed, "concerned fans," about how GIlas is doomed and how PBA players are needed for victory,  I was/am incensed.  I am not paid by Manny Pangilinan or Smart GIlas, but I truly support their long term plan for basketball.  I even wrote about why I would bet on Gilas over any PBA team when playing international tournaments.  Rather than rehash all my statements in that article, I decided to play the numbers game.


Head to Head

     Most of the comments long for the inclusion of PBA players, saying the GIlas players were, "less-skilled," kids and the pros would have the capability to do better.  One of the strongest PBA-backed national teams played the Jones Cup last year, so I took a look at the numbers.  Going by team records, Powerade (PBA) finished 7th overall with a 2-6 win-loss record.  GIlas, as menioned finished 4th with 3-3.  It should already say something about Gilas that they needed less games to get to three wins, right?


Match ups


     Looking at each individual game, here's what I found.  Against the Iranians, both teams lost, with Powerade losing 60-85 and GIlas losing 68-81.  Ranged against Lebanon, again both teams lost.  Powerade lost 83-95 and Gilas 62-73.  Looking at those games, it would seem that Gilas and Powerade are on equal footing, which already punches holes into the theory that the PBA would do better.

     Then this is where things get interesting.  Against the Japanese, again both teams lost, Powerade losing 85-87 and Gilas 74-84.  What is important to note, though, that last year, Japan sent a scrub team, which lost all its games in the Jones Cup except against the Philippines.  This year, Japan sent its national team, complete with former Phoenix Suns guard Yuta Tabuse. Ranged against the Taiwanese second team, Powerade escaped with a 94-90 victory while Gilas crushed the Taiwanese youngsters, 83-52.  Versus the actual Taiwanese national team, the PBA pros lost, 77-86, while Gilas fashioned out a gritty, 96-93 overtime win.  in 2009, Jordan played in the Jones Cup, crushing the PBA pros 90-59.  While Jordan didn't play in Taiwan this year, it did play against GIlas here in the MVP Cup, losing to GIlas in the finals 80-91.  It really does beg the question about the pros supposed advantage, doesn't it?


Skills

     Taking a look at the numbers, both Philippine teams needed a lot of help in rebounding and turnovers, but in the question of skill, performance and execution, Gilas would win the numbers game.  Find that statement unbelievable?  Take a look at these numbers.  On offense, the PBA pros, who doubting Thomases dubbed as more, "skilled" and "consistent," averaged 77.88 points on offense throughout the Jones Cup.  The Gilas, "kids" conjured up an average of 82.33 points, despite being "mere" amateurs.  On the defensive side, the story is the same.  "Tough" PBA players with their muscle-bound physiques held their opponents to an average of 85.38 points allowed.  Smart Gilas turned it on defensively, allowing their opponents to score a mere 71.  It is quite correct to say that there is a skill difference between the PBA and Smart GIlas, but people may yet find the answer to who is better to be surprising.


Perspective


     Gilas didn't dominate the Jones Cup and that is disappointing, but people must not forget why GIlas was formed.  It was formed to win the 2011 FIBA Asia Championships, not the 2010 Asian games or the 2010 Jones Cup.  Unlike the PBA team that had the Jones Cup as the only practice tournament for their FIBA Asia, Gilas will play in at least 4 more international meets, which means they are still on schedule.  At any rate, this team of youngsters is already showing flashes of amateur game brilliance, tremendous movement on offense and defense and a willingness to lay it all on the line every game.  There really is no need to panic and call for PBA players who have historically not done it for the Philippines.  These GIlas "kids"?  They're alright.