Philippine Basketball National Team Review

Philippine Basketball National Team Review
By: Iris®™©


Last November 14, 2008 coach Yeng Guiao formally announce his 14 man national team panel, which compose of all pro Pba-backed team. And is being advised and monitor of all former head coach of the national team way back from 1990 asian games coach Robert Jaworski, Norman Black, Tim Cone, Jong Uichico and Chot Reyes. Now let me review the strengths and weaknesses of the players that he picked, and as well others players he didn’t picked. For all the readers this is just my own opinion.

At the center position

Asi Taulava
Strengths: Postup game, rebounding, adds up height, hustle, experience, leadership, defense, post defender, inside presence and intimidation.

Weakness: maybe he’s age and fatigue level, free throw shooting.

All in all a good choice.
Score: I’ll give it a 09/10


Mick Penisi
Strengths: Outside shooting, rebounding, experience, height.

Weakness: Kind of a soft defender, speed.

All in all a good backup center for Asi.
Score: 7/10


On power forwards.


Sonny Thoss
Strengths: questionable

Weakness: inexperience in international tournament. He played with the national team, when coach chot was just starting the group and he was so soft and nervous. The Las Vegas tournament where he was so nervous he doesn’t know what he is doing on the court, that’s why he got cut off the team.
You can’t even play him in center position he is to small.

All in all, not a good choice a all, there are a lot of big many who can replace thoss. For example we got Enrico Villanueva, could be Jay Washington or even Jay-r Reyes, which are more versatile than thoss. In the end he’s young and he can gain experience out of this stint. He can be a good pba player but for a national I don’t know he stills hs to prove him self to me.
Score: negative 010



Kerby Raymundo

Strengths: Low post threat, good rebounder, defender, the kid has a Filipino pride unlike the others, international experience, good midrange jump shot. We all see he step up his game in the closing stages in our 1st game against Iran in fiba asia last year. He scored 8 straight points when no one was willing to score and that’s the heart and the leadership this player brings.

Weakness: too small to be power forward, but what can we do? He is the tallest in his position that is available for us. And he is proving his worth.

All in all a good choice.
Score: 8/10


Ranidel De Ocampo

Strengths: He can hit three pointers (who can’t?)

Weakness: he can’t defend he is to soft, too slow, nervous in international competition.
Inconsistent.

All in all another wasted slot. But I would rather have him than thoss.
Score: 1/10


Small Forward position.


Kelly Williams

Strengths: Good rebounder, scorer, athletic, young, hustle experience, great leaping ability and a lot more.


Weakness: there is but I cant think of any.

All in all excellent choice. Who would not pick him? Chot didn’t pick him before but in the end im glad he did. He was the lone bright spot in the fiba asia together with jimmy. He was the only one hustling for the ball. Tremendous hustle that you can’t see in the stat sheet.
Score: 10/10


Arwind Santos


Strengths: mirror image of Kelly Williams, good shot blocker better than kelly. If your resting Kelly then arwind comes in, it like you didn’t take Kelly of the court. And he also got a long range shot. The good thing about them is they are still young and will be a better, experienced, mature player when the next tournament comes.

Weakness: look at Kelly’s weakness.

All in all, excellent pick. Great way to compliment Kelly, I wonder what would happen when they are both in the court at the same time? Hustle players. And include Gabe with them. I love(and can’t wait) to see that.
Score: 10/10


Gabe Norwood

Strengths: like Kelly and Arwind, and can play multiple position


Weakness: Look at Arwind’s

All in all, what a selection of small forwards. Good thing about Gabe is he can play the 1-4 position. So I just placed him in the sf but can play sg.
Score: 10/10


Shooting guards.


James Yap

Strengths: can shot outside, mvp and nothing much to say.

Weakness: he tends to ball hog. Sometimes in consistent(in shooting outside).

All in all, not a bad choice.
Score: 7/10


Cyrus Baguio

Strengths: other than he is being coach by yeng. Good open court player.

Weakness: inconsistent with his long range. Not a good defender.
All in all, there are a lot of good and better player in this position. Hontiveros can shot the ball from long range, and a better defender than cyrus. Caguioa would be also better, unfortunately he is injured.
Score: 2/10



Jared Dillinger


Strengths: hustle, good defender, good midrange jumper. Young, plenty of time to develop.


Weakness: in experience.

All in all, good. To tell you the truth, I’m not yet very familiar with jared, I had only seen him play once. It was his first game but made a good impression.
Score: 6/10.



Willie Miller

Strengths: Mr. 2 time mvp(both where nationals are gone, no really good players to contest with). Good outside shooter, leadership, passing, defense, quick, good playmaking skills.

Weakness: in experience, too small for the position.

All in all, I don’t understand why coach Yeng said he didn’t get jimmy(alapag) for his size then contradict his self by getting willie miller. He said jimmy is to small and would create match up problem. Then why willie? They are practically the same. I’ll discuss that later (un selected but deserving players).
Score: 4/10



Jay-Jay Helterbrand


Strengths: slaher, playmaking skills, leadership, good open court player.


Weakness: can ball hog sometimes, and sometimes make bad decisions.

All in all. a Good choice
Score: 7/10


Rayan Reyes

Strengths: good defender, no fear, young and can be develop for future tournaments.

Weakness: being consistent, bad playmaking, in experience.

All in all, he can be trained but give the spot to jimmy.
Score: 1/10


Players were not chosen, but should be considered.


Jimmy Alapag. We all know what this kid can do. He all ready has an international experience. He was the only player scoring when no one wants to step up. He even penetrates the defense of 7 footers, he has a heart of the fighter. Why remove him of the team? Chot even said he was the heart of the team. So why? Why chose a experimental reyes the experienced alapag? Yeng said too small? Then he shouldn’t have picked miller.

Jay-r Reyes, as I’ve said he is young and can learn a lot. Would be a great experience for him and he can be use in the national team longer because he started younger. I’d rather have him rather than have thoss in the lineup.

Dondon Hontiveros. I know you might say I crazy, but he is better defender than cyrus baguio. The only problem is he screwed up in crucial plays of fiba asia. But wouldn’y he learn from that experience?

Gary David. Teriffic scorer, the problem is can he defend? I would rather picked him than miller. He is way taller than miller.

Lordy Tugade. If only he can work on his consistency.


Now that’s my OWN opinion for the chosen 14 man roster. But, you can argue with me all day, but this is just my opinion. In the end it’s up to the coach how he wanted his team, that’s the soldiers he wanted to go to war with. We have to respect him and his decision and just give them all the support we can. And what matter is we know how good Yeng Guiao is in terms of coaching. He can have the weirdest players and still win. Just look on how he handles the red bull, no superstars but yet they are making it to playoffs. And that’s all we need, a coach who can make his players, a team players.

And one more thing PBA should start considering lowering the age of the pro players. Why? Simply look at it this way, the younger our players develop, the better for us in international games. Look at the NBA, at the age of 18 they are pros all ready. Look at the players who started young and now superstars of their own team. Look at James, Howard, Wade, Anthony, Bosh even Bryant started at 18, and still we can make a whole long list of players who are young and talented. The point is the younger they are developing the better. And I think that’s one thing they should consider. We have young players to work out. Greg Slaugther of cebu, Japet Aguilar and many more. If they can have their experience now, then we can use them longer rather than wait for their game to mature, let’s make them learn it at their very young age.

Lets support our team. Lets pray for them. More power Team Pilipinas.