GILAS PILIPINAS | THE HARSH TRUTH

So Gilas Pilipinas faced the harsh truth about Australia’s Team B. And from the looks of things, we’re going to head to the home turfs of Australia and New Zealand in July with the possibility of ending up with a 2–4 record.

And that’s okay.

What?

Read on.

So let me say this. I know that the Philippines has faced tough odds like those of Latvia, Brazil, Greece, Argentina, and so on. But Australia isn’t just an opposing team that would eat our awesomeness. It’s like they are the Coco Gauff to our Alex Eala. Or Emmanouil Karalis to our EJ Obiena. Australia is number 6 in the world. They are no cakewalk. Just because we have a grudge match against them doesn’t mean we are up to their standards.

The reason they fielded a Team B is that their top stars are busy doing everything else, and wait until July, when they will play Gilas with the likes of Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Jock Landale, or hell… Ben Simmons, if he decides to have one last hurrah. The media are telling everyone that Australia is beatable just like the Europeans, but the fact is, these same Europeans would quiver at the sight of the Australians as well.

And oh, I hear the fans saying, let’s replace this or let’s replace that.

Oh, here’s my question.

With what?

Where exactly will they get these new players?

The first major culprit is Fajardo, who barely saw action in the game. That said, when he entered the game, he didn’t do anything bad. He altered two drives, got fouled and made his two free throws, grabbed a board, and was tied for the highest +/- alongside Kevin Quiambao in only four minutes of action. Yes, June Mar is slow, but he’s also 36 and was raised to play ball in a time when the Philippines needed size instead of scoring from that position. Even Asi, Slaughter, or Standhardinger—even during the time of Allan Caidic—the big men were there primarily for defense. All this shit-talking about June Mar is mostly from casuals who don’t know our basketball history.

Even in the NBA, the reason why Pascal Siakam, Isaiah Hartenstein, and other big, seldom-used, seldom-scoring frontcourt players blossomed in the NBA Playoffs is that they can get high-percentage baskets and the penchant to stop easy shots.

Even in basketball’s current evolution, you don’t scream at a player for missing an open three-pointer more than you would at a player missing an uncontested layup.

Look, I am not saying June Mar isn’t built for the modern international game, because he’s not. I am just saying that when Gilas had a rough time guarding Australia’s perimeter, maybe a guy like June Mar could have latched himself onto the inside so the rest of the team could play man-to-man against the Aussies, especially during that fourth-quarter outburst.

And then what about the scoring support? There is a reason why Dwight Ramos and AJ Edu are playing well with Gilas—and it’s because they are not overly attached to Philippine basketball culture. They don't see the PBA as the endgame. They have NBA idols. It's not the same with the other players like Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao.

The players tend to get shy about taking shots, even the B.League players. They may look good in their respective leagues, but when they play for Gilas, they always act like young “up-and-comers” alongside their PBA idols.

Even Kai Sotto has this tendency.

Look, if you want players with this kind of mentality to beat the Oceania squads, then get all the stateside Fil-Ams with the right documents. Until then, let’s lower our expectations and just be happy that the country is still competing as one of the top teams in Asia. Let’s constantly whip Iran, China, Korea, and the rest of the new and improved Asian teams first before we even dream that we can stop the Aussies.

And finally, people are saying that maybe it’s time to change the Gilas coach. With who, exactly? Remember what the public did to Chot Reyes? Or how about Yeng Guiao? Now we’re messing with Tim Cone, who is undoubtedly the top coach we have right now. The established PBA coaches are staying away from Gilas. Even foreign coaches like Tab Baldwin, Rajko Toroman, and Nenad Vucinic are content to coach other teams rather than Gilas Pilipinas.

And we’re willing to change the Gilas program a year before the FIBA World Cup?

This blog is, I guess, a biannual reminder that we should be happy with what we have and focus on the mission we need to accomplish. Yes, Gilas has improved, but maybe instead of going after Australia and New Zealand, it’s just right to secure our spot as the best team in Asia. Iran, Jordan, Syria, and Iraq are our lifelines to advance to the 2027 FIBA World Cup. Let’s just do what we can against Australia and New Zealand in July and focus our attention on the next round.

As much as it’s cool to win our games in July, maybe it’s better to win all of our games against the teams in Group C.