At this point in time, I think Smart Gilas needs to evaluate and make sound decisions. Why not:

1. Naturalize Milan Vucicevic as a Filipino – Milan may not be monster in the court but he is reportedly well-liked by the team because of his work ethic and winning attitude. He may not be perfect for the role but his commitment is far more important than sheer talent.
2. Let Kelly Williams play the small forward position – The inclusion of Williams in the team is a matter of formality. There’s no doubt ‘K-Will’ plays basketball better than anyone else in the country today at 3 or 4 spot. I think it’s much better to have him in the ‘3’ spot so as not to give up much in height as he is only 6-foot-6.
3. Naturalize one more foreigner standing at least 6-foot-11 – Though Vucicevic is a rational choice, he has had problems matching up with 7-foot guys. The way I see it, Gilas needs somebody who can impose intimidation in the shaded lane. Since only one naturalized player is allowed, the team may choose between Vucicevic and another big man come the competition proper. At least the team has the option either of the two.

I understand that the SBP people are far more knowledgeable in the sport than the screaming fans. But the pressing conditions of the team needs a thorough review and reassessment. Why not lend an ear to them?

Prior to the start of the competition, scores of Filipino basketball enthusiasts were looking forward to a semi-final appearance and settle for at least the fourth place. Such was a realistic expectation. However, as the tournament progressed, that semi-final dream had been slowly slipping through the Gilas’ hands. Injuries to JV Casio, JR Cawaling and Marcio Lassiter were already a concern for the coaching staff right before the opening tiff. Furthermore, the recent addition of Chris Lutz and import Milan Vucicevic was feared to disrupt the fluidity of the offensive patterns. In other words, the potential problems were already assessed beforehand. But how come the coaching staff were not able to find solutions to these issues?

I understand that the recently concluded Champions’ Cup is part of the learning process to achieve the teams’ ultimate goals of grabbing a medal in the Asian Games and an Olympic berth in next year’s continental qualifiers. However, injuries and unfamiliarity should not be made as scapegoats because these may happen in the actual competitions. No matter what were the reasons for the debacle in the Doha joust, RP-Smart Gilas finished seventh, no excuses!

Coach Rajko gained international attention when he piloted Iran back to the Olympics after 60 years thru the 2007 FIBA-Asia Championship in Tokushima, Japan. A year earlier, he steered the same team to a third place finish in the Doha Asian Games. It was an uphill task for a coach to bring Iran to the elite level coming from mediocre performances in the past.

Now that Toroman has been at the helm of Smart Gilas, he faces an extreme challenge of taking the Philippines back to its throne. The Philippines is doing everything to regain Asia’s basketball supremacy. However, in the ongoing FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, RP-Smart Gilas just absorbed back to back losses from Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Kazakhstan’s Astana Tigers. This proves that the team is still far from a perfect form.

With this scenario, the Philippines may have to bounce back from the grave to gain respect from its peers. The Guangzhou Asian Games is just around the corner and a lot has still to be done. Remember, coach Rajko led Iran to a third place finish in the Asian Games and a title in the Asian championship. Can he do the same thing for the Philippines this time around?

Photo Courtesy: Swiatkoszykowki.blox.pl

It can be said that only basketball at the Asian Games and FIBA-Asia Championship are considered the major basketball tournaments in Asia. The latter being the continental qualifier for the Olympics and the World Championship. Some competitions like the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, William Jones Cup, FIBA-Asia Stankovic Cup and Dubai International Basketball Tournament among others are also well represented by member countries . The influx of European coaches  to the Middle Eastern countries has brought intense competition in the region last decade thereby challenging traditional powerhouse China and second-liner South Korea, both from East Asia. Is basketball power shifting from the east to the other side of Asia?

2000-2004

In 2001 FIBA-Asia Championship,  China dominated the rest of Asia to capture the title with Lebanon as second followed by South Korea at third place. The following year at the 2002 Busan Asian Games, host country South Korea edged out China in overtime to steal the gold medal in what was considered as one of the greatest upsets in Asian basketball history. Kazakhstan, meanwhile bagged the bronze medal. In the 2003 Olympic qualifier held in Harbin, China, the Chinese and the South Koreans met again at the Finals which the former exacted their revenge. Qatar ended up in third place.

In short, China and South Korea are constantly at the top three spots in three tourneys in the first half of the decade.

2005-2009

The later part of the decade, however, had been telling a different story. In 2005 FIBA-Asia Championship, China maintained the top spot with Lebanon and Qatar at second and third place respectively. A year later at the Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar, China still bagged the gold medal while Qatar and Iran settled for silver and bronze. With China already assured of an Olympic berth in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they sent their ‘B’ team in the 2007 Olympic qualifiers. As a result, it paved the way for the Iranians to win the crown in the tournament. Lebanon and South Korea completed the elite list. Finally,  in the 2009 continental championship, Iran made a statement that even an ‘A’ team from China cannot unseat them as the Asian champions beating the Chinese for the title. Jordan finished third.

It can be noted that two West Asian countries are in the top three in all premier competitions from 2005 until 2009.

So, is basketball power really shifting from the east to the west? Yes. Unless East Asians overhaul their respective programs, Middle Eastern countries gain momentum in basketball dominance in Asia.

I think the Korean Basketball Association (KBA) has done the right measures to save the South Korea’s basketball from its downfall. As I looked at the records, I noticed that South Korea has been on the decline in the second half of the last decade compared to decent finishes in the first half. As for the FIBA-Asia Championship, it placed 3^rd in 2001, 2^nd in 2003 and 4^th in 2005. And in the 2002 Asian Games held in Busan, it surprised China and eventually captured the Gold medal. In short, South Korea placed among the top four in all four major competitions from 2001-2005.

In the second half of the decade, however, South Korea finished 5^th in the Asian Games held in Doha, Qatar in 2006. It ended up 3^rd in 2007 and a dismal 7^th place in the 2009 FIBA-Asian Championship held at Tianjin, China.  So, it didn’t qualify for the semifinals in two of the three major competitions.

With the arrival of Lenny Wilkens and Yoo Jae-hak, South Korea is looking forward to rebuild its basketball competitiveness in Asia.

In the first game, Jamal Sampson proved his worth by grabbing 19 rebounds and had 3 blocks despite scoring only 2 points. It was Dylan Ababou who topscored with 11 points, new recruit Marcio Lassiter with 8 while Barocca and Baracael had 7 points each. It was a very low scoring ballgame as the scores (46-38) appear to be like that of a half time.

In the second game last January 9, Qatar made some offensive adjustments to escape a close victory over the visiting Filipinos 77-69. This time Jamal Sampson scored 12 points, had 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 3 blocks. It was Andy Mark Barocca who topscored however with 20.

I’m not so familiar with Qatar but from what I’ve read, at least 9 of them played during the 2009 FIBA-Asia Championship in Tianjin, China last August. Qatar placed 6^th in that tournament while Powerade – Pilipinas at 8^th place. With Smart Gilas giving Qatar a hard time, I feel satisfied with the performance of this developmental team so far.

Smart Gilas plays the Kuwaiti National squad later today January 10 and tomorrow January 11.

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South Korea’s national team captain Park Ji-sung believes he will be healthy by November 15 when South Korea plays in Denmark for a friendly match. He has missed eleven straight games in his club Manchester United because of a knee injury.

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England’s Tom Huddlestone of Tottenham Hotspur was surprised to be called into the England’s squad that will play friendly match against Brazil this Saturday, November 14 in Doha, Qatar.  He said that he did not expect such call from the national team.

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Outfielder Hichori Horimoto of the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters has decided to stay with the team and not exercise his right for free agency.  He told the scribes that he is determined to stay with the team despite the pay cut.

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ET Land Elephants Import Chris Daniels and local Kim Sung-chul were traded to KT & G Kites in exchange for import Rashad Bell and locals Lee Sang-jun and Lee Hyung-ho. The trade was completed as both teams try to improve their standings in the Korean Basketball League (KBL).