|
If
there’s one thing the
Philippines
should look into and take into perspective following a
ninth-place finish in the Fiba-Asia Championships, it is
the development of tall players who could match up with
Asian opponents.
This
becomes more apparent as the likes of Asi Taulava, Erik
Menk and Mick Pennisi, among the frontliners of the
Philippine team, are not getting any younger, making it
imperative for basketball authorities to find players as
tall and as capable as them.
Definitely, the recent forays of the Philippine team
showed that the team is smaller compared with Asian
countries. And what gave us the edge was our quickness
and talent overall.
But
basketball remains a big man’s game. This fact I am
reminded several times when I visited the Nike Camp in
China more than a month ago.
The
Chinese team we beat in the Fiba-Asian Championships is
a work in progress and is being prepared for the next
Olympics for sure.
While we
have launched our hopes on the mature crop of Philippine
Basketball Association (PBA) stars,
China
is already ahead by four years, with its sights set on
2012.
Never
mind the two losses to the Philippines. There’s a saying
that goes, one step backward, two steps forward, right?
Credit
the Chinese for patience.
Patience, unfortunately, is not one of the Philippines’
better virtues.
If we
are to come up with a national program bent on making it
to the Olympics, then developing tall players should be
the focus, not just cramming with a few months of
preparations.
This is
besides creating a competitive atmosphere akin to Fiba-sanctioned
competitions so that players would not experience
adjustment problems as seen in previous stints.
From the
grassroots—meaning the elementary schools, up to the
collegiate level and then to the pros—everything should
flow into the development of tall players.
In
recent years, we’ve had tall players who lack seasoning
and, most likely, the aptitude to develop their skills.
I won’t
name these players but it seems that they have relied
merely on their size to make a living out of basketball.
Even so, they were cut from the league. It’s wasted
talent, if you ask me, as we continue to rely on tall
Fil-American players to shore up our team.
There’s
nothing wrong with that if the Fil-Americans are legit.
But on a perspective of development, we shouldn’t rely
on quick fixes.
The time
is now, with the country’s basketball leaders receptive
to the requirements of forming a really good team based
on a solid grassroots program from the ground up.
Browsing
through several basketball sites, I’ve seen that there
seems to be an emerging list of tall players.
To name
a few, there are six-foot-nine Japeth Aguilar of Western
Kentucky University (NCAA), six-foot-nine Gian Chiu of
Ateneo and six-foot-11 Gregory Fuentes Slaughter of the
University of the Visayas and six-foot-10 Samigue Eman
of University of Mindanao.
For
sure, there are more tall players out there ready for
the picking. But development can only come with a
strict, detailed and progressive plan in place.
****
Here’s
an interesting letter by Joey Feir in reaction to a
previous column. The letter was edited for brevity. It
reads:
Hi
coach,
I read
your article on BusinessMirror, and I must say that I
totally agree with your views.
But what
totally frustrated me was about MVP’s plan to
“naturalize.” Here we go again. Win at all costs. Damn
the Filipino First policy.
Sure,
naturalization produced results as Moore, Still and
Engelland proved years ago, but is it as satisfying?
Even
these Fil-foreigners who are now playing for the country
don’t really seem genuine. Sorry for the ambivalence but
that’s how the ordinary Filipino fan feels. But still I
thank Taulava, Williams and the rest for playing their
hearts out. But my biggest thanks go to Hontiveros,
Raymundo and the locals who were born and raised in the
Philippines.
And what
about this
Norwood? I never knew him, never seen him play, and now he’s part of
the national team? Is he better than the local players?
From what I saw at the Fiba-Asia tournament, he’s no
better.
Let me
say something that has been buried deep into the
subconscious of the ordinary Filipino basketball fan:
Nothing tastes better than food cooked in your own
kitchen.
Win or
lose, a national team that is not composed of real
Filipinos does not feel Filipino at all. Sure, we cheer
and pray for their victory, but the reality is that it
does not feel right.
I would
rather have a Philippine team which loses by 60 points
and settles for silver than a mixed Philippine team
which goes on to win the gold.
I don’t
know if I’m alone in this. I sure hope others will speak
out. And I don’t know if you will agree with me, coach.
A
program, if executed properly, can produce better
Filipino basketball players who have what it takes to be
competitive in the global stage. It will take years. But
only then can it truly be called “Pilipinas Basketball.”
“Naturalization” is a quick-fix, that’s obvious. Mr.
MVP, we’re not hurrying you. Develop the locals first.
Don’t worry. Even if Team Philippines doesn’t win any
gold during your watch, we are already forever grateful
to you for pulling everybody together for a common
cause. Mabuhay ang Pilipino! Mabuhay ka, coach.
Hi Joey,
As I’ve
said, there should be no problem if the
Filipino-Americans are legitimate and I’m sure that
basketball authorities have painstakingly verified the
roots of the players playing for the country. And, of
course, there’s no question that these cagers played
their hearts out. Let’s just say that having naturalized
players should not be a cure-all and end-all, but a way
to transfer basketball know-how to the local players. In
the long run, the goal should be for the betterment of
the players playing the sport with the international
competitions in focus. I truly respect your views.
Coach E |
