The Passing of the Torch

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The Passing of the Torch

Smart Gilas officially takes over from Powerade Pilipinas after its epic 98-69 win.

by rick olivares

“Keep your feet on the ground.”

Thus intoned Ricky Vargas, SBP Vice President and PBA Board member for Talk ‘N Text, inside a happy but not overly exuberant Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team dugout.

The team broke out in applause. Reminders were made about a practice game against Philippine Patriots of the Asean Basketball League the following day, not missing school, and other matters. And there was dinner at the gazebo of the Araneta Coliseum.

The Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team was still plenty hungry even after their 98-69 demolition of the Powerade Pilipinas team that effectively transferred the reigns of leading the country back to its lost basketball glory.

Only the team wasn’t gloating. They were more relieved and excited to begin the next part of their journey. And their hunger pangs needed to be satiated.

After the two-hour match that was interrupted with all sorts of ceremonies, the team went to center court and knelt down to pray. And when they stood up to thank the crowd, they were showered with even greater applause. “The are exciting to watch,” said one fan seated at the patron section. “I’m a believer.”

It must have been a bitter pill for former National Coach Yeng Guiao to swallow to see his Powerade Pilipinas team lose badly. But for all the acrimony and controversy, Guiao had the class at the end to shake Gilas coach Rajko Toroman’s hand after the game.

There were all sorts of sub-plots entering the main game of the "Pinoy Basketbol Kakampi Ninyo" charity game that raised PhP 1.6 million for the victims of Typhoon Ondoy.

There was Guaio and Toroman. The former, a member of the Basketball Coaches Association of the Philippines, has been against the hiring of the  foreign nationals to coach the national squad. And that included the Serb, in spite of his glowing international credentials.

Toroman offered to scout the opposition for Guiao during the FIBA Men’s Basketball Championship but the Burger King mentor rebuffed him and instead asked Ginebra San Miguel taskmaster Jong Uichico to join him in the sidelines in Tianjin, China.

There too, was Japeth Aguilar, the Burger King’s draft pick who opted out of signing with the PBA ballclub. Aguilar played for Guiao in the Powerade team and almost immediately after Tianjin, did an about face and bolted for Gilas citing a desire to continue to serve the country and help the squad achieve its Olympic dream.

And there was Chester Jarrell Giles, the former Los Angeles Laker draftee who joined the team for its campaign last summer in the FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia. Giles, who is in the process of naturalization in order to play for the country, was mauled during a scrimmage with Talk ‘N Text players a few days before the charity game.

Many Gilas players are of the mind that the assault was planned since the incident occurred barely two minutes into the third quarter of their scrimmage. “They quickly entered the court and cordoned us off from reaching Giles,” said one Gilas player who has changed his views on the pro players. “Mukhang nag-usap sila. Nakakawalang respeto.”

Toroman however downplayed any tension between the two teams. “It is for charity and I don’t think anyone will run that with the whole country watching. But it will be intense as both teams will want to win.”

The last subplot belonged to Andy Mark Barroca, the former Far Eastern University Tamaraw who was removed from the team for allegedly throwing a game. His ouster and subsequent return to full-time duty with Gilas has strained his relationship with his former teammates including Aldrech Ramos and Ric Cawaling who are also on the national squad.

Barroca ignored them in the dugout but said that once they step on the court, it was all business. And true enough, during introductions, he tapped hands with his former Tamaraw teammates. On several occasions, he found them for a pass and a deuce.

Next to co-captain Chris Tiu, Barroca drew the biggest applause from the Monday evening crowd that filled the patron to the Upper A seats of the venue. When the FEU Pep Squad chanted his name several times during the course of the game, the point guard’s eyes watered. “Malaking bagay yun. Lalo na galing sa FEU ‘yan.”

And suddenly it was like old times when the team was in the United States, Serbia, and Indonesia. Barroca was balling and lobbing alley-oops to Giles and Aguilar.

That was what Guiao feared – highlight reel slams to get the crowd rocking in their favor. “Siguraduhin niyo na wala silang mga dunk,” he reminded his players prior to the game.

At first, the Powerade squad was executing behind the snipings of James Yap and Sonny Thoss. But substituting Jayvee Casio in favor of Barroca in running the offense, Gilas got their act together pounded the pro players mercilessly.

Gilas ruled the boards 60-36 with 16 offensive caroms to the 13 of Powerade. They protected the interior as they swatted 8 shots to the lone rejection by Gabe Norwood (I counted at least 10 blocked shots total by Gilas).

Their defense fueled their uptempo game. They ran when they could and set up their halfcourt offense that Powerade seemed helpless to stop.

It seemed ridiculous even to the point of unthinkable how Gilas thoroughly dominated the stat sheet (Powerade only had more steals but that too is disputable) even when the PBA referees swallowed their whistles.

In one sequence, Willie Miller, the Alaska Aces’ dynamo of a guard, drilled a shot even with Mac Baracael all over him. “Nice challenge,” said the two-time PBA MVP by way of trash talking the former FEU Tam.

In truth, there was no challenge, no contest, and no doubt that Gilas is better equipped to battle in the international arena to fight for that elusive Olympic berth. The ruled the airwaves and the ground game. And the end result spoke volumes.

But that’s for the analysts and hoop junkies to decide.

The young guns… well, they just want to have fun.

“Just like Jakarta,” mused Dylan Ababou, the Most Valuable Player for the University Athletic Association Season 72. “Na-miss ko yung team na ‘to.”

If Powerade Pilipinas was missing the services of Jayjay Helterbrand, Mick Pennisi, and Arwind Santos who are all with their mother clubs abroad, so too was Smart Gilas which was without Letran’s RJ Jazul and Rey Guevarra and the University of Visayas’ Greg Slaughter. The three are still competing in their respective school’s collegiate campaigns.

Ababou, Ramos, and Cawaling just rejoined Gilas and had only one practice with the team. And the only time they played with Aguilar was last April when the team was at the Joe Abunassar Impact Basketball Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Magi Sison, the fourth string center for Gilas who was scratched out of the line-up for Jakarta, was excited to be back with the squad. “Pamilya ko sa Lingayen nanonood. Second family ko (Gilas) nandito. Masaya ‘to.”

Powerade’s Jay-R Reyes was quick to offer his insights on the game and Gilas: “Magaling. Mahusay talaga. Good luck sa kanila. Sana abutin nila.”

“It is one moment,” cautioned Toroman inside the dugout after the match. “We have to enjoy this moment but tomorrow we continue our hard work because our task is very very difficult.”

The journey continues.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas 98 – Aguilar 24, Giles 22, Baracael 10, Ababou 9, Barroca 8, Casio 8, Tiu 7, Ramos 6, Ballesteros 4, Cawaling 3, Sison 0

Powerade Pilipinas 69 -  Yap 17, Dillinger 12, Thoss 9, Miller 9, Raymundo 5, Taulava 5, Arboleda 5, Norwood 3, De Ocampo 2, Baguio 2, Reyes 0

Quarter scoring 23-19, 49-36, 72-58, 98-69

 

Notes: The FEU Pep Squad performed at halftime and played the drumbeats of several UAAP schools. Aside from their home cheers, they performed the beats of Ateneo, UP, UE, and UST.