Gilas 3.0: Younger and faster but with room to improve

MANILA, Philippines – Deep into training and preparations, Gilas 3.0, the Philippine national men’s basketball team is proving to be a competitive squad.

(READ AND VOTE: Build your Gilas Pilipinas dream team)

Coming at the heels of two past Gilas teams, the management, coaching staff and program have a wealth of experience to build on. Being able to play at the highest international level should only make the team better. The challenge is to be able to properly identify the right variables. The key is always to be able to play on one’s strengths in the hope that it hides the team’s weaknesses.

Coach Baldwin – outside looking in

Coach Tab Baldwin is proving to be a fresh addition to the team, he has brought “new eyes” into the process.  His choice of players reveal a commitment to an overall strategy. The composition of the team is made up of utility players who are clearly willing to fill specific roles. The result is that this Gilas 3.0 team is not as star studded as the past ones.

In a sport where height is might, Baldwin has courageously chosen to anchor this team on athleticism. Baldwin’s direction seems to point to choosing speed as the bedrock of the campaign. He has infused younger and more agile players. In the recently concluded William Jones Cup, players like Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Calvin Abueva, JC Intal, Gary David and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser manifest this team’s commitment to a more run and gun type of game.

Gilas rotation – faster is better

In the games where Romeo and Castro were aggressively used as point guards, the overall game of Gilas was evidently much faster. They were the central figures of the plays while setting up the offense. Both would have several touches when they move the ball around as they search for the open man. Their roles became more pivotal as they were a threat from the three point area and could readily slash to the basket.

Their wing men who play the off guard and small forward positions thrive with pass and shoot plays. They move well and can shoot. They are comfortable coming off picks to receive a pass and immediately go up for the basket. Players like Gabe Norwood, David, Marc Pingris, Intal and Dondon Hontiveros perfectly fit this role.

Lack of height however will always be a problem. In the Jones Cup this became more apparent as the team played without the 6-foot-11 Andray Blatche, their naturalized former Brooklyn Net and Washington Wizard.

However, his absence became more of a blessing as the team learned to cope and rise above the situation. They were able to leverage on their collective athleticism implementing give and gos, pass and shoots, as well as drive and drop plays surprisingly well. The confidence level continuously increased as the tournament progressed. They finished the tournament with a 6-2 record and brought home the silver medal. Even in the losses to Iran and South Korea, the height disadvantage was not as much of a problem for the shorter Gilas Pilipinas quintet.

The power forward and center position were well played by Moala Tautuaa, Aldrech Ramos, Ranidel De Ocampo, Sonny Thoss and the other players assigned this post. Although they had to play against much taller players, their relative quickness and agility plus court intelligence allowed them to out-position their taller opponents in both defense and offense.

All these variables resulted in points from fastbreaks and perimeter jump shots. There were not many “inside the paint” back to the basket plays as our power forwards were getting looks from 8 to10 feet away. Tautuaa, Asi Taulava and Troy Rosario produced offense for the team from this area. Of course the occasional shots from beyond the arc by De Ocampo, Intal, David and Hotiveros as well as Romeo and Castro were very welcome.

Defense

The youth and enthusiasm of this current crop of players made the man-zone defense a very effective option. The players’ young legs allowed them to cover their designated areas very well and effectively creating a man-to-man defensive situation that made it difficult for even bigger players to get into position. This also crowds the keyhole area forcing the opposing teams to take outside shots rather than lobbing high passes to their centers inside.

The composition of the team allowed Coach Baldwin to rotate his players without altering the basic strategies and plays. Because majority of players were quick and didn’t mind moving around, the offense seemed seamless and well-orchestrated.

(READ: Talk ‘N Text to join MVP Cup in lieu of Lebanon)

Even against powerhouse Iran and the big men of Russia, there was a silent confidence that was guiding the team. The cohesiveness was beginning to show and the program emerging.

Certainly, more preparation time would have been ideal, but in less than 15 days the Gilas team will once again go after that one Olympic slot as they begin their quest in the FIBA Asia competition.

On strat… in time

A reliable source shared that Coach Baldwin keeps on reminding the players three things: Offensive rebounding, limiting bad shots, proper spacing. The message is that they need to fight for the ball in offense, box out quick, use their legs and fight for the ball.  They are being reminded to be more efficient in shot selection. Lastly, proper spacing calls for each player to play smart and for and have teamwork.

The team looks like they should be peaking at the right time. Their stint at the Jones Cup was designed to give them time to gel and for the coaching staff to further identify variables that they should be working on. It is however not an easy road. A last tuneup tournament, the MVP Cup in Manila from September 11 to 13, will give 12 men named to the final roster, a chance to implement some of the lessons learned in their short time togethr.

Gilas 3.0 will come into the FIBA Asia tournament as a wild card team.  Not dominant but not pushovers either. The possibility of gaining that Olympic slot is real. Though tough, it is achievable.

Laban Pilipinas! Puso! – Rappler.com

Mike Ochosa is President of Viva Sports Management Inc. and Philippine Habagat Baseball Club Inc. Follow him on Twitter: @mikeochosa and on his You Tube Channel: Sports Note with Coach Mike Ochosa.