Smart Gilas RP: The Philippine Redeem Team

SMART Gilas RP Men’s National Basketball Team Series
http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/sports/10075-the-philippine-redeem-team.html

Part 3: The Philippine Redeem Team
by rick olivares

There was a look of utter helplessness as the young Philippine team searched for answers during a blowout loss to KK Metalac Valjevo 92-61 in a game at the Hala Pionir in Palilula, Belgrade.

“Kahit anong dikit sa mga binabantayan namin, eh nalilibre pa rin sila at puro shoot,” recalled Mark Barroca of the match that fellow team captain Chris Tiu described as “humiliating.”

Smart Gilas RP Men’s National Team Assistant Coach Jude Roque knew it was a lost cause and instead chose to study what one of the top professional basketball teams in Serbia was doing right.

“There was non-stop cutting, screening, movement, passing, you name it,” marveled the former San Beda assistant who first came on board the new Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas program as a volunteer before being officially named as a lieutenant to head coach Rajko Toroman. "Even the team’s star players were doing the little things; the dirty work. No one was exempt from doing the basic things. The Serbians worked as a team. We might have more talented players but total team basketball is a concept we have to grasp. And basketball… is not an individual sport.”

Toroman, who has much success coaching in almost virtually every part of the world, wanted to bring the Gilas team to his home country to see for themselves what he has been preaching to them all along. “To see and to play then to be beaten like that, is to believe,” he said to make sure his point got across. “Now they believe.”

The Gilas Team has been under intense scrutiny from the moment of its inception whether because of the SBP officials behind it, to the team’s composition and right down to choice of head coach.

“Clearly, what is needed is a total paradigm shift,” presented Roque. “The old ways did not work and it’s time for a new one. Hopefully, people can throw their support behind this program. Hindi ba we have everything to gain from this?”

For years the Philippines has fielded pro teams culled only after the regular season to partake in international duty. As good as the they have been more so with the influx of Fil-foreigners, the results still leave much to be desired. And the Philippines is still a long ways off from regaining any standing in the world basketball community with its best finish the 1990 Asian Games when the country placed second to China.

Maybe even worse, the other countries have improved their game tremendously.

The talent and skill level is there without a doubt. But with the Filipinos’ general lack of ceiling, inter-agency rivalries and bickering, and the absence of a long-term commitment to the national team whose fortunes determine the FIBA rankings, have dropped the country off the radar. And for all the Filipino’s talent in the game, there has yet to be an acknowledged superstar to even warrant a call up to the National Basketball Association.

But those are lofty dreams for now. The most important thing is recovering that lost glory.

As a youngster, Jayvee Casio loved the sport so much. He even mapped it out in his mind – to play for a good high school and college team, play in the PBL, and then the PBA. But somewhere in all that, he wanted to represent his country. “Who doesn’t dream of that?” he wondered. “Para magsuot ng jersey na may ‘Pilipinas’ sa harap ay malaking bagay, malaking karangalan.”

It is a sentiment echoed by Assistant Coach Allan Gregorio who is likewise happy for the opportunity to be a part of it. “Not every player on this team may articulate their desire that well but I assure you the feeling is strong. Even among us coaches it’s the same.”

But the three-year commitment is something all the players of the team and its pool thought long and hard because it meant delaying their pro dreams.

Casio admitted to consulting a lot of people about it and most agreed it was a good idea. “We have an opportunity to do something big for our country.”

Andy Mark Barroca is from Zamboanga where life was pretty much simple. He never even thought he’d set foot beyond its shores. Manila was only an ephemeral dream but now he is playing for Far Eastern University, is a part of the National Team, and has set foot in countries he only knew from the map and on television. The Manila part of his dream has materialized; now it has morphed into something bigger. And it shows when with this huge grin on his face when he’s on the court. It is evident and most palpable. “Olympics,’ he says and his mind wanders. “Sana. Sana. Malaking bagay ‘yan para sa bayan. Pero dito tayo magsisimula.”

That is something his FEU teammate Marnel Baracael can appreciate. On his second life after a near fatal slay try last year for still unexplained circumstances, he is making the most out of every opportunity. The team’s resident jokester and is always talking, gabbing, and exulting after every play. “C’mon, boys!” he often exhorts.

Gregorio cracks a funny, “Iba yung libido para sa laro ng batang ‘to.”

The road to redemption begins in Jakarta, Indonesia where the Gilas team will participate in the FIBA Asia Champion’s Cup. And as a fitting send-off, they walloped pro club Red Bull Barako by 22 points.

In the final team briefing at the SBP office at the Philsports Complex, a giddy Baracael still cannot stop talking. “Ilan tulog na lang,” he says. Not even a slight fever could put a damper on him as he still joined a team practice a few nights earlier.

SBP Executive Director Jose Emmanuel Eala keeps the spirits buoyed but tempers expectations. “This is just the first step. We’ve been soaking in experience by playing everywhere but tournament itself is the best teacher. We may do well and we may not do so well, but the important thing is to not give up and keep at it.”

Eala admits to seeing the Philippines defeat China and make it to the London Olympics. Anything and everything is possible.

The final message is of two “R’s” – responsibility and respect.

They are the Philippine National Team and they should conduct themselves as such reminded Eala. He paused for a few seconds to let the message sink in.

When asked to say a few words, Team Captain Chris Tiu who has been splitting time with Gilas, his commitments to GMA-7, and a modeling career, capped up the team’s feelings: “We appreciate the unbelievable support for this endeavor. Everyone has made sacrifices. Now it’s up to us to show it on the court.”

And on the shoulders of the 12 players competing in Jakarta they will take to the court, play hard, never give up, and earn everyone’s respect.