Bitter Pills

     Despite the gutsy effort from Smart Gilas Pilipinas in the recently-concluded 22nd FIBA Asia Champions' Cup resulting in a record 4th place finish, there continues to be brickbats thrown at the national team and its followers scrambling to defend them.  With Gilas' ultimate goal waiting in September in Wuhan, China, the country has barely three months to unite everyone to present a united front.  For both the haters and the fans, here are some bitter pills to swallow.


For the Smart Gilas Fans


Pill # 1 Smart Gilas players have yet to learn everything.

     As long as they have trained together, it's clear Gilas needs more time.  Too often the players try too hard to find the completely open shot, foregoing a relatively open shot and thereby stagnating the offense.  It's admirable that the players are very unselfish with the ball, but they should also be wary of passing up shots and later causing a forced one before the shot clock expires.  The next three months are crucial to these young men, as the multiple tune up games will give them opportunities to learn more discretion in shooting.


Pill # 2 Smart Gilas needs the PBA's help.

     Of course, its ideal to have players be with the program for the entire three years. PBA players joining the team after the Governors' Cup in August could disrupt chemistry but Gilas needs reinforcements. Each of Coach Rajko Toroman's choices for PBA help serve to plug the holes in the team.  If Gilas were a 6 to 8 year program then it would be fine to go all amateur, but since everyone wants Gilas to win this year or bust, then, PBA reinforcements are key.


For the Gilas Haters


Pill # 1 The core of Gilas will not be changed.

      People are STILL playing "phantom coach," writing their dream line ups for Smart Gilas where as much as 10 players are PBA players. The Gilas core players will never be replaced as they have already shown how competitive they can be.  No one in their right mind will agree to change the core of Gilas at this point and it's useless and even harmful to keep writing PBA line ups to replace Gilas and cover up and say, "It's just my opinion." No one ever reads those line ups anyway and it only serves to attack the confidence of the current Gilas players.  How would you feel if you were killing yourself representing the country only to have its citizens write that they want you replaced?


Pill # 2 No PBA-formed team will ever be as competitive as Smart Gilas

     This has to be said.  The country's most talented ballers are PBA ballers.  Player by player, the PBA may have a more impressive list of players than Gilas, but a team of PBA All Stars? They will always lose to Smart Gilas in a FIBA-officiated tournament.  Like I said in this post before, PBA teams will never flourish in FIBA because it's impossible for them.  It's impossible for the PBA to allow their players to train in FIBA rules for at least three years like Gilas and it's impossible for the PBA players to get into the same amateur game shape like the Gilas players unless they train for three years.  FIBA teams, even the latest incarnation of Team USA featuring Kevin Durant, rely on a constantly moving offense and defense, setting, fighting  and running through screens every minute of the game and PBA pros no longer have the youth or the time to learn that.  The PBA isn't the bad guy here; it's a privately-owned corporation who needs to earn money or hundreds of people will lose their jobs, so they can't stop the league for 3 years for the national team.  That's why Gilas, an independent team is a better choice.  They can train exclusively in FIBA rules, acclimate to the amateur game tendencies and keep in amateur game shape.


     The most effective of medicines come in the most bitter of pills.  Now is the time to unite as there is only one national team being sent to reclaim basketball glory and its line up has already been set.  It's time to put aside "opinions" that don't serve to give Smart Gilas the confidence, trust and respect they have earned through their blood, sweat and tears.  It's time for everyone, fan or hater alike, to grab a glass of water and start swallowing.