NAGPAKITANG-GILAS ANG GILAS PILIPINAS PERO ....

courtesy of banderainquirer

Sadyang nagpakitang-gilas ang Gilas Pilipinas sa una nitong laro sa FIBA World Cup na ginaganap sa Spain. Halos manalo ang pambansang koponan ng Pilipinas laban sa kinatatakutang Croatia, 81-78. Kinailangan pa ng Croatia ng extra time para tuluyang pataubin ang Gilas.

Kahanga-hanga ang naging laro ng mga Pilipinong Gilas players sa pangunguna ni Jeff Chan na kumada ng 17 points. Sina Alapag, Tenorio at Castro ay nagmando nang tama sa buong laro. Maging sina Marc Pingris at Junemar Fajardo ay bigay-todo at buong tapang sa paglalaro.

Ang nakakapagtaka lamang ay inilaan ni Coach Chot Reyes ang pinakamalaking papuri para kay Andray Blatche. Bagamat naka-iskor ng crucial na three pointer ang Gilas naturalized player, naging kalat ang laro niya sa kabuuan. Maraming tira ang mintis at ilang turnovers din ang ginawa ni Blatche. Hindi siya naglaro bilang dominating center na siya pa namang kailangan ng koponan.

Kung ibang naturalized player ang naglaro, baka nanalo pa ang Gilas Pilipinas. Matauhan na sana si Coach Chot na hindi Kobe Bryant, Lebron James o Michael Jordan si Blatche na tulad ng pinapalagay niya.

HOW WILL GILAS PILIPINAS FARE IN FIBA WORLD CUP ?

Simply put, Gilas Pilipinas will find it extremely hard to win a single game in FIBA World Cup in Spain.

The pre-FIBA tournament tune-up games, where Gilas Pilipnas lost all of its games is a glimpse of things to come. There is hardly anything that Gilas can rely upon to beat its taller opponents. The team's three point shooting is so erratic and does not even come close to Ukraine's reliable outside shooting. As seen from the tune-up games, the taller opponents are faster than most of Gilas' players. The team exhibits the PBA brand of play which does not work in a highly competitive international tournament like the World Cup. Touch passing is a staple while Gilas point guards dribble so much.

But what really will spell the doom of Gilas Pilipinas is Andray Blatche's uninspiring play. What the team needs is a leader who can motivate his teammates to outperform themselves. Blatche, it seems, is happy to just play and does not appear to be on a personal crusade to at least carry his team to the second round. He plays like a shooting forward instead of a legitimate center which is what the team badly needs. I was just so surprised to see Blatche take so many three point shots against Angola. It is as if he does not know what is expected of him.

With opponents like Puerto Rico, Greece, Argentina, Croatia and Senegal, Gilas Pilipinas can only hope that its three point shooting clicks, Blatche plays like a legitimate and dominating center and its defense becomes impenetrable. Only then can the Philippines hope for a decent showing.

HOMESICK NA NAMAN ANG GILAS PILIPINAS ?

May dahilan na naman ang Gilas Pilipinas sa sunud-sunod na pagkatalo sa mga tune-up games. Ayon sa balita, naho-homesick ang mga players ng pambansang koponan sa basketball kaya natatalo. Sadyang nakakatawa at nakakainis ang dahilang pinalilitaw ng mga namamahala ng team sapagkat wala pa ata isang buwan nakakaalis ang koponan at homesick na ito.

Ayaw man aminin ng mga taga-Gilas Pilipinas, ang totoong dahilan kung bakit panay talo ang koponan ay dahil kulang ito sa paghahanda para sa matinding bakbakan. Ang official line-up ng Gilas para sa FIBA World Cup ay nagawa tatlong araw pa lang ang nakakalipas. Ang pamatay na three point shooting ng koponan ay di gumagana. Mas magaling pa sa three point shooting ang mga matatangkad na Ukrainian players kumpara sa mga pambato ng ating koponan. Si Andray Blatche ay isang malaking kabiguan bilang naturalized player. Sa halip na legitimate center ang posisyong laruin, si Blatche ay nag-aastang shooting forward.

Hanggang nananatiling bulag sa katotohanan ang mga namamahala sa Gilas Pilipinas, patuloy na matatalo ang ating koponan. Hindi uubra ang drama sa isang kumpetisyon na tulad ng FIBA World Cup.

SI MVP AT MGA FILIPINO SPORTS WRITERS SA GITNA NG GULO NG GILAS LAST HOME STAND

Lahat ng sports writers ay inaabswelto si PLDT President Manny V. Pangilinan sa ano mang pagkakasala sa naganap na kapalpakan sa Gilas Last Home Stand. Lahat ay nagpapalagay na itinago kay MVP na walang pahintulot mula sa NBA ang pagsasagawa ng clinic o charity event sa Pilipinas na kasama ang ilang NBA players.

Sa presscon na ginanap matapos ang Gilas Pilipinas Last Home Stand, sinabi ni MVP na sadyang walang laro na magaganap sa event. Na isang clinic talaga ang nasabing event. Nangangahulugan lamang na alam niya na walang permit ang kanilang grupo para magsagawa ng isang full-on game (basahin http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/371614/sports/opinion/commentary-wais-moves-led-to-gilas-vs-nba-cancellation-fiasco). Inamin din ni MVP na itinulad nila ang kanilang charity event sa mga events sa Amerika na pinapayagan ng NBA (basahin http://www.spin.ph/sports/basketball/news/third-party-agency-admits-nba-declined-request-for-sanction-gilas-event-as-early-as-april). Walang dahilan para itulad pa ang Gilas Last Home Stand sa mga events sa Amerika kung ito ay may permit o sanction. Samakatwid, alam din ni MVP na maging para sa isang charity event, wala silang nakuhang permit. Idagdag pa rito ang pahayag ni Maria Espaldon, East West Private president, na inayon nila ang kanilang event sa mga unsanctioned events na pangkaraniwang ginagawa sa Amerika kahit sa mga pipitsuging basketball courts.

Ngayon, masasabi ba na walang kaalam-alam ang PLDT president sa tunay na kalagayan at katayuan ng Gilas Last Home Stand  ilang buwan bago ang araw ng pagtatanghal nito ? Tama ba ang mga sports writers sa mga nilalabas nilang artikulo na itinago ng promoter kay MVP ang mahahalagang detalye ?

Ano ang iyong palagay ?

Hindi ako mapalagay.

ANG MGA TANONG NA HINDI SINAGOT NG PLDT PUBLIC AFFAIRS TUNGKOL SA GILAS LAST HOME STAND

Matapos ang halos dalawang linggong pag-aantabay, di rin sinagot ng PLDT Public Affairs ang aking mga tanong tungkol sa nabulilyasong Gilas Last Home Stand. Kahit isang email interview, di nagpaunlak ang PLDT Public Affairs at sa halip ay sinabing magtanong na lang ako sa kanilang promoter. Narito ang mga tanong na hindi sinagot :

1. Bakit naisipan ng PLDT na isagawa ang Gilas Last Home Stand ?

2. Napagsabihan ba si MVP o PLDT na hindi binigyan ng NBA ang East West Private ng permit para magsagawa ng exhibition game sa Manila ?

3. Napagsabihan rin ba si MVP o PLDT na hindi nabigyan ang East West Private ng permit para magsagawa ng isang charity event ?

4. Paano nalaman ni MVP at PLDT na hindi puedeng magtanghal ng isang full on game sa Gilas Last Home Stand ?

5. Bakit kinailangan na itulad ang charity event ng PLDT sa ibang charity events na pinayagan ng NBA sa Amerika ?

6. Bakit itinuloy pa rin ng PLDT ang pagtatanghal gayung makailang beses nang hindi binigyan ng pahintulot ang East West na magsagawa ng kung ano mang event ?

7. Ano ang naging papel ni Coach Chot Reyes sa kaguluhang naganap ?

8. Bakit ipinaubaya ni MVP at PLDT ang isang malaking event ng tulad ng Gilas Last Home Stand sa East West Private nang buong-buo ?

9. Idedemanda ba ng PLDT ang East West Private sa naganap na bulilyaso ?

10. Ano ang mahalagang aral ang natutunan ng PLDT sa nangyari ?

11. Magtatangka pa ba ang PLDT sa pamumuno ni MVP na magparating pa ng NBA players para sa isang exhibition game o charity event ?

Hangad ko sanang matuldukan na ang isyu ng Gilas Last Home Stand sa pamamagitan ng isang masinsinang panayam. Subalit minabuti ng PLDT Public Affairs na iwang walang katiyakang sagot ang ilang mahahalagang katanungan. Gayun pa man, naniniwala akong lalabas rin ang katotohanan hinggil sa "charity event" na sadyang nagpakulo ng dugo ng maraming basketball fans.

THE GILAS PILIPINAS-NBA STARS FIASCO

What was touted as Gilas Pilipinas' last home stand did not materialize as organizers claim that NBA refused to grant permission to its players to play competitive basketball. Filipino basketball fans were totally dismayed and felt betrayed upon the announcement that only drills were to be performed by Gilas and their NBA counterparts just minutes before the actual game.

I am just puzzled as to why the organizers failed to set everything right for the exhibition game. After all, it is fairly simple to write to NBA to ask permission for the exhibition game. The mess could have been easily avoided had the organizers been diligent in obtaining the necessary permit. The organizers had at least 5 months to fix the necessary permit. What were they thinking in bypassing NBA anyway ?

I am likewise bothered by the fact that the NBA players and their agents agreed to play without knowing that they will run into trouble with the NBA. These players were paid in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the game. They accepted the complete financial package that was offered to them for the game. Certainly, a check with their mother organization whether they can actually play is the least that they can do.

I feel sorry for MVP who now must face the people's wrath. It his army of trusted men who, I think, must be blamed largely for the mess. But then again, is it possible for MVP not to know that as early as April, NBA issued a non-approval of the game ? Is it possible that all his trusted men hid that very crucial detail to him ? Can MVP claim that he is unaware of what was really going on ?

Lastly, I can't help ask where Coach Chot Reyes is in all these ?

WHAT IS THE REAL SCORE WITH GILAS PILIPINAS ?

I am rather puzzled with the way Gilas Pilipinas is preparing for FIBA World Cup in Spain.

Two months before the tournament, the coaching staff of the Philippine team is still experimenting on who will make up the team. Several of those who played during FIBA Asia were left out during Asia Cup in favor of new players. There are talks that 17 players will be sent to Spain instead of 12. But will sending more players really make a difference ? After all, only 12 players will be allowed to play during the tournament. And will the uncertainty of the team's lineup help build teamwork and familiarity ?

Then there is the much-touted workout with NBA stars. Several known NBA players will play two games against Gilas Pilipinas which will serve as tune-ups for the team. While the intention is there, when has an exhibition/charity game really brought out the true capability of a team ? Surely, all the players will play with caution to prevent injuries. Likewise, the games will more likely be played for show. The games will be played to keep the fans happy than anything else.

Sadly, it is the coaching staff that is making the road to Spain bumpy. Instead of focusing on the essentials, it chooses to highlight irrelevance and drama. It is as if the coaching staff is not aware of how difficult it is for the team to win even just one game in Spain. The situation calls for hard practice and a system that will work well against strong teams like Greece, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Croatia and Senegal. Up to this point, I don't see the coaching staff  measuring up to the challenge. And a complete defeat of the team is becoming inevitable.