Gilas Pilipinas will bring a fresh squad to the Asian Games after a strong showing in the recent FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers.
The Philippines won basketball gold at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Now, the team will aim to defend that title in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Gilas Pilipinas will send an 11-man delegation to the tournament. The squad features RJ Abarrientos, Robert Bolick, Adrian Nocum, Sedrick Barefield, Zavier Lucero, Don Trollano, Brandon Ganuelas-Rosser, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Justin Arana, and Justine Baltazar.
The Philippines also reserved the 12th roster spot for naturalised player Justin Brownlee.
Only Arana and Baltazar played in the recent World Cup qualifying window. The rest of the squad will bring fresh energy to the Asian Games.
A lesson from history
Gilas coach Tim Cone has taken an unusual approach with his roster. However, he believes the decision can benefit the Philippines.
The previous Gilas team produced two important wins in the World Cup qualifiers. The Philippines beat Jordan 82-81 in overtime. It also defeated Iran 67-59.
Those games required a major physical effort. Cone believes the players need time to recover before another international tournament.
“You come off these windows like these, you’re really exhausted, the preparation you had to do. Then, you got to turn around and go right to the Asian Games,” Cone said, according to Spin.Ph.
History also supports Cone’s decision.
The Philippines finished as the second-best Asian team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The squad even secured a win against Senegal.
However, the following Asian Games campaign brought a very different result. The Philippines finished seventh at the 2014 Games in Incheon, South Korea.
Gilas B team?
However, some Filipino fans argue that this Gilas team is certainly not the best players that the country can offer in a prominent competition such as the Asian Games.
Availability issues may have contributed to this line-up, as Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, Kevin Quiambao, AJ Edu, and Carl Tamayo opted not to play for Gilas for this year’s Asian Games due to their other professional commitments.
June Mar Fajardo, who was a cornerstone player of Gilas for 13 years, has announced his retirement from national team duties.
Still, this Gilas line-up offers some of the rising stars in the Philippine basketball scene, such as Abarrientos, Bolick, Nocum, Arana, and Baltazar.
With the old guard, like Fajardo, receding from Gilas Pilipinas, the time may be ripe to develop the country’s upcoming players for international competition, and the Asian Games is certainly a good opportunity for such a long-term endeavour.
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