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Brownlee formula
The issue surrounding Justin Brownlee is a major blackeye to Philippine basketball. It is yet another heartbreaker for Filipinos, who were hoping and praying to see the national team reassert its dominance in the international arena. For the longest time, the Filipinos had struggled internationally. In the Asian Games, for instance, the Philippines emerged victorious in its first four editions — 1951 in New Delhi, 1954 in Manila, 1958 in Tokyo, and 1962 in Jakarta before suffering a string of frustrating finishes. The closest we got to the gold medal was in 1990 when the Basketball Association of the Philippines tasked the Philippine Basketball Association with assembling a team that would reclaim our Asian glory. It was a tall order at the time as the Philippines was coming off a bitter setback at the hands of Malaysia in the 1989 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur. The BAP knew that only an Asian crown would soothe the pain of a nation craving revenge. But it didn’t happen. Coached by Robert “Sonny” Jaworski, the team bannered by Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Ramon Fernandez, Samboy Lim, and Chito Loyzaga surrendered to powerhouse China featuring Shan Tao and Ma Jian in the gold medal match. Eight years later, Tim Cone was given the marching orders to assemble another star-studded squad to represent the country in the Bangkok Asian Games in 1998. But like Jaworski, his bitter coaching nemesis at the time, Cone was also unsuccessful as his Centennial Team had to settle for bronze behind China and South Korea. In the next edition in Busan in 2002, hopes were high. Despite a sudden coaching change after American mentor Ron Jacobs suffered a stroke in the final stretch of preparations, Jong Uichico was still able to form a solid team that had a mix of Filipino-foreign stars like Asi Taulava, Eric Menk, and Rudy Hatfield, as well as homegrown stars like Olsen Racela, Kenneth Duremdes, and Danny Ildefonso. But fate wrote a cruel script. The Philippines was ahead, 68-66, in the final 23.9 seconds of the semifinal clash against South Korea. A victory would have sent the Filipinos to the gold medal match against China, while a setback would relegate them to a battle for bronze against Kazakhstan. Racela was at the charity stripe for a chance to ice the game and seal the victory. But he missed both free shots. In a shocking — and heartbreaking — turn of events, Korean gunner Lee Sang Min buried a long three-pointer off a broken play at the buzzer that sent the host country to the finals. The players were crushed while a river of tears flowed through the streets of Manila as the entire country couldn’t believe how merciless the basketball gods could be. Since then, Philippine basketball has been reduced to a mere footnote in Asian basketball. We bombed out of the medal podium in Doha in 2006 and Guangzhou in 2010. We even suffered international embarrassment when head coach Chot Reyes instructed naturalized player Marcus Douthit to shoot at our own basket in Incheon in 2014. In 2018, a legitimate National Basketball Association campaigner, Jordan Clarkson, came along and was billed as the hero who would save Philippine basketball. But he was unsuccessful. The Filipinos’ string of misfortunes continued as Gilas Pilipinas settled for fifth place. Then here came Brownlee, tapped to see action as a naturalized player in the Hangzhou Asian Games. The 35-year-old American was tasked to power a team already familiar to him — guys he had been playing with for more than five years. The coach — Cone — had been his mentor since he arrived in Manila in 2016 and led Barangay Ginebra San Miguel to six PBA titles while winning three Best Import honors. There was no honeymoon period to speak of. He hit the ground running. The result was impressive as Brownlee dropped 36 points to lead Gilas Pilipinas to a razor-thin 84-83 win over Iran in the quarterfinals, before dropping back-to-back three-point bombs in their miraculous 77-76 victory over host China in the semifinals. The Filipinos won their first gold medal in 61 years following a 70-60 victory over Jordan in the final, but an asterisk was attached to the victory after Brownlee tested positive for Carboxy-THC, a banned substance linked to the use of cannabis. At this point, it is unknown whether Brownlee will contest the findings or how long his possible suspension will be. What is clear is that Brownlee made a tremendous impact on Philippine basketball as he proved that the best way to win an international title is to field a naturalized player who is very familiar with the Filipinos’ style of play. Brownlee may not be as exciting and flashy as Clarkson or as tall as Douthit and Blatche, but he knows Philippine basketball like the back of his hand. It’s time for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to create more Justin Brownlees by recruiting young foreign players who are willing to stay in the country for a longer period — not just to earn and play as imports in the PBA — but to win the hearts and minds of these basketball-crazy Filipinos. Brownlee’s professional career is in great peril, and we may not see him don the Gilas or Ginebra jerseys again. But we should always remember his most significant contribution to Philippine basketball. Nope, it wasn’t the incredible play he delivered against China or how he stood his ground against Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and the powerful Jordanians that led to the country’s first Asian Games title in 61 years. His most important contribution was the idea that to gain international success, the federation must recruit a naturalized player not based on skills, height, or popularity but on his love, respect, and dedication to the country he wishes to represent. The post Brownlee formula appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Our team
The 19th Asian Games have yet to start, but Gilas Pilipinas is already winning the hearts and minds of Filipinos. Gilas coach Tim Cone swept local fans off their feet when he allowed them to watch their joint training session with the Gilas Women team last Thursday at the PhilSports Arena. After their workout, San Miguel Corporation director Alfrancis Chua gave the fans five minutes to have their pictures taken with their basketball idols. But when Cone approached Chua, he suddenly changed his mind and increased the allotted time to 15 minutes. Seeing Gilas — a collection of the country’s most popular and wealthiest athletes — go out of their way to mingle with fans is truly heartwarming. And it won’t be the last time they will see their basketball heroes as Cone has invited them anew to watch their friendly match against Changwon LG Sakers on Friday. But just a few weeks ago, this beautiful bond between Gilas and their fans was unthinkable. Gilas struggled to gain public support during the country’s hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup. At the same time, their head coach, Chot Reyes, was being bashed and heckled mercilessly due to their forgettable performance. Fans questioned Reyes’s integrity as a coach, especially when he benched Kai Sotto in their first game against the Dominican Republic. He was also criticized for relying too much on National Basketball Association star Jordan Clarkson, raising speculations that he was unprepared for the world’s biggest and most prestigious basketball event. The fans inside the Smart Araneta Coliseum made their presence felt. They booed Reyes during the player introductions against Italy, prompting some of his players, like Kiefer Ravena, Rhenz Abando and Clarkson, to rush to his defense. Even Reyes’s outfit didn’t escape the eyes of the public. Social media exploded with insults, adverse reactions, and comments after Reyes flaunted an ultra-expensive Thom Browne suit during their game against Angola. The money he spent, reportedly around P200,000, wasn’t worth it as Gilas suffered a 70-80 loss to the Angolans, dealing a major blow to their chances of advancing to the knockout stages. But his manner of coaching and posh outfit were not the only reasons Reyes struggled to deodorize his public image. When Gilas was preparing for the World Cup, Reyes shut the doors of their practice facility to fans and sportswriters. Instead of making the team available, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas assigned a media liaison who disseminated information and narrated what was happening through short videos and photos regularly posted on social media. That was the practice when Gilas trained at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba, as well as when they were in Estonia and Lithuania. Gilas also played friendly matches against Ivory Coast, Mexico, and Montenegro at the PhilSports Arena with no one but a very few team staffers and federation officials in attendance. With the friendly matches being inaccessible, sportswriters had to resort to checking the social media pages of Gilas’s opponents and the SBP to get information and avoid the wrath of their editors. They jokingly called it “socmed journalism.” That’s why the appointment of Cone as Gilas’ head coach is a breath of fresh air. The 65-year-old Cone may be an American, but he knows the importance of gaining public approval. In fact, he started his career as a villain in the eyes of the masses after engaging with the charismatic Robert Jaworski in numerous coaching battles. But he let his coaching do the talking as he led Alaska to a grand slam in 1996 before winning another triple crown with San Mig Coffee in 2014. At Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, the most popular professional team in the country, Cone further cemented his reputation as a well-loved, well-respected coach when he turned the likes of LA Tenorio, Japeth Aguilar, Scottie Thompson and Justin Brownlee into fan favorites. Now, Cone is at the helm of Gilas Pilipinas, armed with a mission of not only winning an Asian Games medal but also bringing the national players closer to the public. It’s a tough order. But Cone is carrying it out to perfection. The post Our team appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Quo Vadis Gilas?
Over the past week, basketball crazy FIBA co-host Philippines has been the mecca for world basketball. Hordes of foreign basketball fans eager to support their teams have trooped to our country, and along with thousands of local fans, including yours truly, have endured the hardships of hours long traffic, bewildering weather of humidity, heat and massive rainfall melding intermittently all within the day enroute to the venues, just to witness live the World Cup’s top hoopsters. Despite what I felt were atrociously expensive tickets for the lower box sections, being an incorrigible basketball fanatic, I just felt that I could not pass up the chance to be part of the once in a lifetime World Cup experience, particularly since I would be in the company of family friends, businessman basketball-sportscaster Dominic Uy who shared his insightful off-court commentaries and who was responsible for getting us some great seats, my erstwhile golfing partner Cookie la’O who had partnered with me decades back to bag the prestigious Mango Tee Tournament championship in Alabang, and my son-in-law, noted New Balance shoe designer Gabe la’O, who flew all the way from New Hampshire to watch some top-notch games. Never mind that they are all as La Salle Green as can be but their youthful energies in cheering their hearts out for every basket, block, steal and mad breakaway was infectious. I watched the US-Greece and Gilas-Italy games live and the experience did not disappoint. The highlights of those games in consonance with the tremendous roars of the fans will be replayed in my memory bank over and over again for a long time to come. But, of course, like all true-blue basketball aficionados, recounting and analyzing the wows of a won game and the what-ifs of a heartbreaker and the future of Gilas is par for the course. So here goes. Despite the four heartbreaking defeats to the Dominican Republic, Angola, Italy and South Sudan, the last game of Gilas winning against the undisputed Asian champion, China, has given us a slight glimmer of hope, again, to have a chance to make it to Paris next year. Although the win was masterfully achieved as a team effort, undoubtedly it was Jordan Clarkson who practically carried Gilas on his shoulders with his hot 3-point shooting in the third quarter. Even China’s coach Sasha Dordevic and NBA star Li Kaier of the Minneapolis Timberwolves pointed to Clarkson as the main reason for their never-before lopsided loss to Gilas. Because of this win, Gilas is ranked 24th out of the 32 participating countries, enough to allow us to participate in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and so the buzz over Gilas’ chances continues. What changes are needed? As far as the team composition is concerned, unless there are injuries, I believe the current line-up is as good as it can get. All are unquestionably standouts. On the other hand, as far as the coaching leadership is concerned, Chot Reyes already declared immediately after the win over China that he is stepping down because the incessant social media abuse from his critics has been “brutal” for him and his family. Kudos to Chot for his service to the country and for making this move rightly expected of any leader who has not delivered on the goals. The options, however, are limited. And worse, there is an extremely short timeline to make the choice because the Asian Games starts on 23 September. Tab Baldwin of course is the popular clamor, but the UAAP season begins as well this September and I don’t think he will leave the Blue Eagles coachless. Also it seems that there could be some pushback from certain SBA and PBA quarters who might not be too keen on Tab’s up front in your face style. Tim Cone is my own bet because not only is he an equally great coach but also for continuity since he is already in the Gilas coaching staff. Regardless of the choice, however, the problem of conflicting schedules of the players with their home teams will continue to be an obstacle to building a Gilas team that needs to be properly honed with significant playing time together. PBA and SBP will have to somehow firmly reach an understanding, otherwise Gilas fans will have to face up to the reality of more heartbreaks. Quo Vadis Gilas? Until next week… OBF! For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com The post Quo Vadis Gilas? appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl glitters after Gilas routs China
Although the aspirational campaign of the Philippines for a berth in the Paris Olympics in 2024 is all over, the 38,155 Filipinos and millions of others are hurting. Why should Gilas Pilipinas suffer four straight losses before waking up to the reality that we are the host of the world’s most prestigious basketball tournament? National interest should have been the guiding principle in preparing for this global affair that our people love so much. In deference to the presence of our guests let us wait after they have left to discuss in this column the various other interests that may have spoiled our preparation for FIBA World Cup 2023 Philippines. Meanwhile, let us share and enjoy together the blessings that this thing called sport has provided us in celebration of humanity in our country. It was midway through the third quarter before Jordan Clarkson took over with his fantastic shooting, with four straight three-point shots that put Gilas ahead 73-51 at the end of the third, maintaining that lead until the end of the fourth, with the final score, Philippines 96, China 75. Clarkson scored 34, Rhenz Abando 14, Kai Sotto 12, Dwight Ramos 11, Jun Mar Fajardo 9, Roger Ray Pogoy 7, AJ Edu 5, Scottie Thompson 4, Kiefer Ravena 0, Japeth Aguilar 0. This situation was similar in the first game of Gilas with the Dominican Republic, except that had Chot paced Clarkson and allowed him some rest before the fourth quarter, the inaugural game could have been an easy win for the home team. The colossal defeat devastated the 38,115 basketball-crazy fans present. The attendance at the world’s largest indoor coliseum in the country registered in the Guinness World Records the biggest numbers for a single FIBA World Cup basketball match. It took Chot and his players to play “and practice” four times and lose on thin margins — in the Philippine Arena, Mall of Asia, and Araneta Coliseum — before the watchful eyes of basketball enthusiasts from all over the sports capitals of the world. It was only after the fourth loss that Chot gained mastery of the plays that could clinch a victory, and he did it wonderfully. It was a massacre. Gilas registered its biggest win ever, at home, in FIBA World Cup history. The fault, perhaps, for Gilas’ four losses lay in a lack of practice. Had the team had sufficient time to practice their winning combinations, it might have been a different story. No sports team in the world can win a championship without practice. Practice makes perfect. Jordan Clarkson saved the Philippines from another winless FIBA World Cup run, salvaging a lackluster team performance. The third-place finish of the national team in the 1954 FIBA World Cup in Brazil has remained unsurpassed by any Asian country until now. The 1954 squad will always be remembered for having been inducted into the Philippine Sports Hall of Fame of the Philippine Sports Commission. The feat of the immortal squad included winning six and losing only two. The Philippines beat the following countries: Paraguay 64-52; Taipei 48-38; Uruguay 67-63; Canada 83-76; Israel 90-56; and France 66-60. The Philippines lost to: Brazil 62-99; and USA 43-56. The scoring leader was Carlos Loyzaga with an average score of 16.4 points per game. The captain ball was Lauro Mumar and the coach was Herminio Silva. Player and senator-to-be Ambrosio Padilla headed the 1954 national basketball team. The post Phl glitters after Gilas routs China appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
It’s not just Chot
Basketball-crazy Filipinos are up in arms, bashing Chot Reyes following Gilas Pilipinas’ disastrous performance in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Well, they have a point. As head coach, Reyes was supposed to carry out the special mission of leading Gilas Pilipinas to a respectable performance in the World Cup and an outright berth in the 2024 Summer Olympics. He was given everything he needed. In fact, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas opened its wallet to fly in National Basketball Association superstar Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto from the United States, while the best Filipino players inside and outside the Philippine Basketball Association were enlisted to assemble the country’s tallest and most talented roster ever. When Gilas Pilipinas was about to take on the Dominican Republic in the World Cup opener, the government even declared a holiday in Metro Manila and Bulacan so fans could troop to the Philippine Arena to express their support. But what happened? Gilas opened its campaign with a disappointing loss to the Dominicans before displaying subpar performances against Angola and Italy to get relegated to the classification phase. Against South Sudan, a country that only gained its independence in 2011, Gilas Pilipinas was sluggish as it trailed by 18 points at halftime. Although the Filipinos showed some flashes of brilliance in the third period, the South Sudanese proved they were the better team as they delivered a strong finishing kick to seal their victory. The loss to South Sudan sparked an outrage among Filipino fans. They claim that Reyes is no longer the right leader for Gilas as he got outclassed and outcoached by the most brilliant minds in international basketball. At one point, South Sudan coach Royal Ivey made Reyes look like an amateur as he made some key adjustments while calmly instructing his wards not to panic amid the Filipinos’ fiery rally. Prior to the game against the Africans, Reyes texted his principal — SBP chairman emeritus Manny Pangilinan — a short but sincere message: Sorry Boss. The following day, Reyes confirmed his message and took full responsibility for what is arguably one of the darkest and most embarrassing chapters in the history of Philippine basketball. Truly, it’s time for Reyes to go. But is he the only person who deserves all the blame for this humiliating performance? Definitely not. The fate of Gilas had been cemented long before they battled the powerhouse Dominicans that fateful Friday evening in Bulacan. If we really want to trace what went wrong in the Gilas program, we have to go back to as far as last year when Kiwi-American mentor Tab Baldwin suddenly resigned as head coach so he could focus on handling the basketball program of Ateneo de Manila University. With no head coach and most of the players campaigning in either Japan or Korea, the SBP pressed the panic button and instructed Reyes to hop from TNT Tropang Giga back to Gilas so he could save the program that was already teetering on the brink of a massive disaster. The results were far from impressive as Gilas blew hot and cold in the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers and finished ninth in the FIBA Asia Cup. The most shameful performance, however, was in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi when a rag-tag Gilas crew suffered a gut-wrenching 85-81 setback to Indonesia in the gold medal match, prompting Reyes to tender his resignation the moment he landed in Manila. But the federation rejected it. Pangilinan and Panlilio wanted Reyes to stay until the FIBA World Cup and finish the job that was initially intended for Baldwin. Now that Reyes has failed, the entire country is crucifying him. Sure, Reyes is no saint. He also has a lot of shortcomings. But before we bash him, let us remember: It’s not just Chot. The post It’s not just Chot appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Clarkson, Anderson on collision course as Gilas, China rekindle rivalry
NBA veterans Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz and Kyle Anderson of the Minnesota Timbervolwes take center stage in an expected fiery duel as Asian rivals Gilas Pilipinas and China figure in a crucial classification round encounter......»»
Gilas heartbreakers
The FIBA World Cup games have begun with an opening night of flag-waving, music-filled entertainment proudly showcasing our much-heralded love for singing and dancing. And for the next two weeks, basketball fanatics will be focused on the best of the best hoopsters in the world. Political leanings will be set aside and diplomatic disagreements among competing nations momentarily ignored by 32 countries bannered by a record number of 55 NBA players amicably but surely passionately battling for national pride on the hardcourts of Manila, Jakarta and Okinawa. Undoubtedly, the Philippines has prepared long and hard. Undoubtedly, our Gilas pool of an exciting combination of youthful and seasoned cagers possessed finally with enough height, girth, and basketball savvy to be internationally competitive have stepped up and put their individual professional careers on hold for the opportunity to don the colors of the country. Undoubtedly, MVP, the godfather and financial backer of SBP, has done his utmost best to deliver for the Filipino people the much-cherished dream of returning our basketball team to the Olympics by topping other Asian countries in the World Cup. Undoubtedly, the Filipino fans have continued to pour their hearts out for Gilas, desperately hoping for the much-fantasized victories over the top teams of the world starting with the higher-ranked countries in our group, namely, #10 Italy and #23 Dominican Republic versus our #40 rank. And certainly, a win against lower-ranked #41 Angola would not be an outsized expectation. So, what has happened so far? As of this writing, I must say that, surely, like millions of our countrymen, my heart is utterly heartbroken. Why? Two Gilas games have just been concluded and much to our lament, although we still have one more game to play against Italy, our aspirations for moving up to the second round of 16 have been shattered for all intents and purposes. We still have a long shot for a Hail Mary miracle if the Dominicans beat the Angolans, our tormentors in the second game of Gilas, and IF we beat Italy. This slimmest of slim scenarios will have Gilas tied with Italy and Angola at one win and two losses each, which will have to be settled on point differentials. We first lost to the Dominican Republic 87- 81 in a tightly contested match-up. Our team stood toe to toe against NBA star Karl Anthony Towns, an unstoppable behemoth every time he drove in on his strong side against the defenses of AJ Edu and our own man mountain June Mar Fajardo. Both defenders nevertheless stood out with their steady shooting and defensive efforts. The first game against the Dominicans, to the credit of our undersized team, was a nip-and-tuck affair all throughout that could have gone either way until our scoring machine, NBA star Jordan Clarkson, fouled out with about three minutes left. Without Clarkson to respond to Towns, the game of Gilas quickly unraveled and the outcome became inevitable. The game against Angola started and ended quite differently. With dimming hopes for moving up to the next round, Gilas ferociously came out strong, even leading by as many as 11 points in the second quarter. Clarkson’s shooting, however, was not as sharp, hitting only 32 percent compared to his 38 percent clip against the Dominicans and Gilas’ penchant for turnovers continued to hurt. By the start of the fourth quarter, Angola took control and never looked back. Some lessons to be learned. No matter how great a player Clarkson is, other players will have to step up more consistently. Basketball after all is and will always be about team play. Fajardo was marvelous in the Dominican game but couldn’t maintain his strong play in the match-up against Angola’s NBA Atlanta Hawks center, Bruno Fernando. On the other hand, Edu, Dwight, and Pogoy showed intermittent flashes of brilliance but lacked game-long consistency. The much heralded Kai Sotto, perhaps through no fault of his own since he was denied sufficient playing time to show his stuff, was flat and didn’t really wow the crowd. But perhaps the biggest question asked by basketball pundits is if coach Chot Reyes is up to par compared to the brilliant bench tactician Tab Baldwin who unexpectedly stepped down as Gilas coach. Until next week… OBF! *** For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com. The post Gilas heartbreakers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Golden sports opportunities
Dominican Republic led by Karl Anthony Towns won over Gilas of the Philippines by a score of 87-81. I felt sad for our country. It should have been an easy win for us, for an outright berth to the Paris Olympics in 2024. If coached skillfully, our 2023 Gilas Five, the best basketball team the Philippines has ever assembled in over half a century, could have “slaughtered” the opposition. The team suffered from lapses in coaching, faulty substitutions and, worst of all, failure to execute to our best advantage the alley-oop arc passes to Kai Sotto. Many times in the past, I witnessed Sotto perform this move with amazing success. All the Gilas players led by Jordan Clarkson have the skill to make the arc pass for an alley-oop shot to the basket. But how can we have the alley-oop when Sotto was benched in the crucial quarter of the game? The fourth quarter belonged to us. What was surprising was why, with five minutes remaining, Sotto, our 7-foot-2 superstar, was not sent in to help control the board, to stop Karl Anthony Towns from scoring from long range, and to save our most precious player, Jordan Clarkson, from fouling out. With Kai Sotto out of the court, what I feared would happen did happen. The Dominicans controlled the board, 17 for them, only 3 for us. Towns went to town scoring, and Jordan Clarkson, in a desperate bid to stop him, fouled out. We lost the game and the outright berth to the Olympics in Paris in 2024. The Philippines–Dominican Republic game, the most watched last Friday, 25 August, established a new world record of 38,115 fans in attendance, surpassing the 32,616 that witnessed the US-Russia final at the 1994 World Cup in Toronto, Canada. Our defeat at the hands of Karl Anthony Towns and his team dashed any hopes of repeating or surpassing what happened seventy years ago. The world was sweeter then. That was once upon a time when bronze glittered like gold, when the Philippines in a stunning performance at the 1954 World Basketball Championship — now known as the FIBA World Cup — in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil beat France for third place to achieve the highest finish ever by an Asian team on the world stage. The 6-foot-3 center, Carlos Loyzaga, led the golden age of Philippine basketball back in the 1950s. His best record was that bronze finish in 1954 — to date the country’s, or any Asian country’s for that matter, best in global basketball. Loyzaga fired 19 points to steer the Herminio Silva-mentored Philippine squad to victory over France, 66-60. Still, let us celebrate the victory of the Dominican Republic. Playing basketball in a global setting is a celebration of humanity, regardless of faith, race, culture, belief, gender and ability. Basketball brings us together — to meet across borders and boundaries, to learn to compete as friends, to respect and trust one another even in opposition. After the game, Karl Anthony Towns was warmly congratulated by the Filipino fans, young and old alike, who shook his hand, saying, “Mabuhay ka Karl Anthony” (Long live Karl Anthony). The big tall man responded, “Salamat po. Mabuhay kayo lahat.” (Thank you, long live to all). The Dominican Republic may have captured the game, but the Filipinos captured the heart of its captain. Sport is always the winner! The post Golden sports opportunities appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Brownlee to banner Gilas in Asian Games instead
As Gilas Pilipinas goes with NBA standout Jordan Clarkson for the FIBA World Cup, the national team will have resident player Justin Brownlee instead in the Asian Games – ensuring a pair of equally capable top guns for the country’s bids in two major tournaments......»»
Gilas Pilipinas’ SEAG win fuels excitement for 2023 FIBA World Cup
Less than a hundred days before the opening tip of the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Filipino basketball fans are growing excited as they await the final list of local and international basketball superstars who will be playing in the Philippine leg of the said basketball championship. Following Gilas Pilipinas’ euphoric win against an import-laden Cambodian team in the recent 32nd Southeast Asian Games, and with the team’s grit and sound coaching strategies, basketball enthusiasts are optimistic about the team’s chances in this year’s FIBA World Cup. With Gilas Pilipinas facing familiar foes — Italy, Dominican Republic and Angola — in the FIBA World Cup’s group stage, the victory over Cambodia could inspire the players as they compete with these teams. Playing in front of the home crowd will boost the team’s morale as Gilas Pilipinas sets their sights on winning in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and qualifying to represent the flag in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. The Philippines last played in the 1972 Olympics and winning the FIBA World Cup could end the drought. In an interview, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Alfredo S. Panlilio shared his wishes that Gilas Pilipinas could win at least two (games) and move to the next round. Since the 2014 FIBA World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas had only won once in 10 matches. Thus, there is enormous pressure to perform at an all-time high, considering that the Philippines is one of the co-hosts of this year’s tournament. Panlilio added, “If we do that (win at least two games and advance to the knockout stage), possibly, because the highest ranking Asian team after every tournament gets a slot in the Olympics. It’s a reward if we’re the highest Asian team. In the meantime, what remains crucial for Gilas Pilipinas’ coaching staff is its selection of players that would participate in the FIBA World Cup. The players’ selection also excites Filipinos as they all wait to see if Filipino-American and Utah Jazz Guard Jordan Clarkson would don the country’s colors. News reports quoted Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Chot Reyes saying, “The selection would be based on various factors such as schedules, players’ plans, and even economics. To be very honest about it, to be very frank, economics will also be an issue.” “There are a lot of things that are going to be involved in making the final determination. We plan to have a 16- or 18-man pool, and it might be more, to go on an extended training period that will include foreign camps and tune-up games against quality competition,” Reyes said. The Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia will host this year’s FIBA World Cup from August 25 to September 10, 2023. The games will be played simultaneously at the Araneta Coliseum for Groups A and B, Mall of Asia Arena for Groups C and D, Okinawa Arena in Japan for Groups E and F, and at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta for Groups G and H. The qualifying teams will head to Manila as the Playoffs and Finals Games will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena. As the country prepares to host the most prestigious FIBA World Cup, Panlilio also called on all basketball stakeholders to unite to support Gilas Pilipinas as it competes in the international arena. With the Philippines’ passionate fans, rich basketball culture, and world-class venues, the stage is all set for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which is certain to leave a mark on the global basketball landscape. The post Gilas Pilipinas’ SEAG win fuels excitement for 2023 FIBA World Cup appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto lead Gilas bounce back with 38-point romp of Saudi Arabia
MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines overcame a shaky start and then picked Saudi Arabia apart with methodical precision, 84-46, to get back on track in the Fiba World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Gilas rode the hot hand of Jordan Clarkson, treating 19,829 souls at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City to a scintillating performance that included thunderous […] The post Jordan Clarkson, Kai Sotto lead Gilas bounce back with 38-point romp of Saudi Arabia appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
Kai, Clarkson, Gilas armado sa Beirut
BIBIYAHE na patungong Beirut Martes ng madaling araw sina Kai Sotto, Jordan Clarkson at ang bubuo sa final roster ng Gilas Pilipinas para sa fourth window ng FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. The post Kai, Clarkson, Gilas armado sa Beirut first appeared on Abante......»»
Jordan Clarkson out to win in reunion with Gilas Pilipinas
Gilas Pilipinas will bank on NBA player Jordan Clarkson as it tries to pull off a pair of wins against Lebanon and Saudi Arabia in the fourth window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers.....»»
Clarkson parating na: Sotto sabak agad sa Gilas
SASABAK na agad si Kai Zachary Sotto sa ensayo matapos dumating sa bansa Huwebes ng gabi upang maglaro para sa Gilas Pilipinas sa ikaapat na window ng FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. The post Clarkson parating na: Sotto sabak agad sa Gilas first appeared on Abante......»»
Clarkson, Sotto sayang ang oras
KINUMPIRMA ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) na lalaro para sa Gilas Pilipinas sila NBA guard Jordan Clarkson at Australia NBL center Kai Sotto para sa fourth window ng FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers sa August 25 at 29. The post Clarkson, Sotto sayang ang oras first appeared on Abante......»»
Clarkson comes to rescue of vandalized Filipino food truck
A Filipino food truck that was vandalized in an apparent racist and anti-Asian attack in Salt Lake City has received support from Fil-American Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz. .....»»
Jordan Clarkson debuts for Gilas Pilipinas 2 years ago today
Jordan Clarkson to Gilas Pilipinas will be one of those storylines that will persist until it gets a definitive resolution. It’s either JC plays for the national team as a local or not. Time may be running out to really have him play for the national team at his peak too as Clarkson is not exactly getting any younger. JC will be in his early 30s in the next FIBA World Cup co-hosted by the Philippines. Nevertheless, it’s not like JC to Gilas has been a totally fruitless endeavor. Clarkson earned a national team spot and played his first game for Gilas exactly two years ago today. In the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, Clarkson debuted for the Philippine national team against China. [Related: ASIAN GAMES: Did Clarkson pass the China test?] Clarkson poured 28 points, 16 in a sensational third-quarter rally for the Philippines. Unfortunately, Gilas lost the game, 80-82. JC with Gilas also lost their next game to South Korea, ending the team’s medal hopes. Fortunately, Clarkson maintained a strong performance for the Gilas Pilipinas and he did lead the Philippines to a respectable 5th place finish, the highest Asian Games finish for the country in 16 years. [Related: By the Numbers: Jordan Clarkson's first Gilas Pilipinas stint] Whether or not Clarkson makes it back to Gilas Pilipinas will be a question that will be continually asked until the powers that be can provide a definite resolution. Still, Clarkson at least got to play one tournament for Gilas, and it all started on this day two years ago. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
Philippines-Korea are 'new and old school' basketball says Ratliffe
For someone who is neither Filipino or South Korean — by birth that is — Ricardo Ratfliffe sure has a pretty unique relationship with the two eternal Asian basketball rivals. After more than half a decade of playing as an import for the Korean Basketball League, Ratfliffe found himself in the PBA, playing a couple of stints for the Star Hotshots in back-to-back Commissioner's Cups. Ratliffe's PBA stints ended up being short, as he eventually got naturalized to play for the South Korean national team. Exposed to the basketball style of two different countries, Ratliffe says that there's a distinct contrast between the Philippines and South Korea. "I think the style of play in the Philippines is more like American style. It's more flashy and entertaining. I feel like you guys are going with the evolution," Ratliffe said on a recent appearance on 2OT with PBA broadcasters Magoo Marjon and Carlo Pamintuan. "In Korea, I think it's more of an old school style. People don't go out of their element. The Philippines is more like new school and I think Korea is more old school," he added. In about three years as a national team member, Ratliffe has become part of the ongoing Philippines-South Korea basketball saga. Ratliffe has two signature moments so far, the first was in the 2018 Asian Games when his squad took down a Gilas Pilipinas team led by Jordan Clarkson. [Related: Before 2018 Asiad meeting, Clarkson and Ratliffe actually go way back] The second came on the final day of the 2019 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers. Ratliffe willed Korea to win a non-bearing road game against Lebanon, with the victory becoming the help the Philippines needed to advance to the World Championships. As if he wasn't popular enough among Filipino fans, that Korea win made Ratliffe all the more appreciated in the Philippines. "I think I had like about a thousand DMs [on Instagram]," Ratliffe recalled. "Right after the game I posted the Philippine flag with a heart on my story, so that everyone knew I was going out there to give it my all and I did. I thought I played decent, I didn't play my best game but I gave it my best," he added. [Related: Gilas has nemesis Korea to thank for FIBA World Cup berth] While he's become a legend in his own right in South Korea, Ratliffe says he won't hesitate to take his talents back to the PBA if given the chance in the future. Ratliffe never played a full conference with the Hotshots, but his arrivals always did boost the team. "I think it was a match made in heaven [with the Hotshots]," Ratliffe said. "I'm appreciative of the organization, the fans, and the whole country. If I didn't get the [Korean] passport, I'm going to the Philippines every season after I'm done with Korea until I retire. That was my plan," he added. — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
By the Numbers: Jordan Clarkson s first Gilas Pilipinas stint
Jordan Clarkson just celebrated his 28th birthday, which means he'll still be at or near his prime when the Philippines hosts the main card of the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Clarkson's inclusion to the Philippine national team has been quite the topic for a long time now. For all the attention the topic has received, JC only did suit up for Gilas Pilipinas that one time during the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Clarkson's final statline for his first Gilas Pilipinas stint was 26 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and an even 2-2 record. Here's Jordan's game-by-game record for Gilas Pilipinas. Here's to hoping we could see more in the future. Jordan Clarkson for Gilas Pilipinas in the 2018 Asian Games: vs. China (80-82) 28 points 8 rebounds 4 assists 5 3-point field goals 2 steals vs. South Korea (82-91) 25 points 8 rebounds 3 assists 1 steal vs. Japan (113-80) 22 points 6 rebounds 9 assists 1 block vs. Syria (109-55) 29 points 4 rebounds 6 assists 5 3-point field goals — Follow this writer on Twitter, @paullintag8.....»»
Majoy Baron in FIVB website feature article: Enjoying both volleyball and fashion worlds
Filipino volleyball stars continue to make headlines in the FIVB website. Majoy Baron’s humble volleyball journey to her slaying it on the catwalk and her incredible story of striving to be at her best in both worlds is the latest Filipino volleyball feature article on the site. The F2 Logistics middle blocker shared the news on her Instagram post on Sunday. View this post on Instagram Thank you FIVB for the feature. I am humbled to be able to share my journey not only as a volleyball player but also as a model. I hope to inspire others to go beyond their limitations. Pursue your passions and don’t be afraid to do the things you love. You are limitless ?? Click full article on my bio! A post shared by Majoy Baron (@majoybaron) on Jun 6, 2020 at 6:20pm PDT “Thank you FIVB for the feature,” she posted. “I am humbled to be able to share my journey not only as a volleyball player but also as a model. I hope to inspire others to go beyond their limitations. Pursue your passions and don’t be afraid to do the things you love. You are limitless.” Baron, who is a mainstay in the national team since 2018, told the website that she fell in love with beauty pageants growing up. It was her first love. “Before I became a volleyball player, I used to enjoy joining beauty pageants,” the 5-foot-10 stunner on and off the court told the website. “In the Philippines, beauty pageants are very popular. Miss Universe is our Super Bowl and is one of the major events the Filipinos look forward to every year. Growing up with that energy and enthusiasm, pageants and modelling easily became my first love.” Baron added that walking on the ramp puts her on a different high. “There was a rush every time I would put on a beautiful designer garment and walk down an elevated ramp in front of an audience,” she said. “What I enjoyed the most was transforming into a different person that was totally removed from my real self even just for a few minutes.” Her modelling career had to take a backseat when the Concepcion, Tarlac native was recruited to play for the Ramil De Jesus-mentored De La Salle University Lady Spikers in the UAAP. “My skills in high school weren't sufficient to make me stand out, I was tall and that was it. After a national tournament, only two schools scouted me for college. I was very grateful to even receive an offer from two schools with well-known and established volleyball programmes,” she said. “Going to DLSU for college turned out to be one of the best decisions I have ever made,” Baron continued. “It still gives me goose bumps remembering the time I was playing for the them. Those championships, trophies and individual awards we got were the fruits of our unending hard work and dedication to the sport.” Her first two years with the green and white were disappointing with DLSU losing to archrival Ateneo de Manila University in Season 76 and 77. Baron became a UAAP champion in 2016 in her third year and in her fourth year with the squad, she bagged Season 79 Most Valuable Player award as well as leading the Lady Spikers to a back-to-back. She left a winning legacy after closing her collegiate career as a three-peat champion. Baron also enjoyed a flourishing career in the commercial league, helping the Cargo Movers collect titles in the Philippine Superliga. Her talents and skills also landed her a spot in the national team. Baron saw action in the 2018 Asian Games and the 2019 Southeast Asian Games and was named Best Middle Blocker twice in the two-leg 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix. She returned to modelling after college, squeezing in photo shoots for magazines, product endorsements and fashion shows, in between her commitments with her club and national squad. “It was not hard juggling volleyball and modelling duties, but the determination and discipline that I honed while playing volleyball took over. Know your priorities, pursue excellence, and push to be better than before,” said Baron, who was the fourth Filipino featured in the website after Jaja Santiago, Sisi Rondina and Bryan Bagunas. --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles.....»»