Category: Smart Gilas National Team

Fiba-Asia 2013 Phils v. Korea 2013 – That Winning Feeling

It’s hard to write about a game such as last night’s due to the sheer variety and depth of emotions that come with its recollection. For the most part I was calm, primarily due to the fact I don’t buy in to the ‘laban’ and ‘puso’ shtick. My love for my country has nothing to do with basketball and even less on the outcome of a game. I love my country and (deserving) fellow Filipinos, and I’m pretty much sure the the players of Gilas do as well. This is default and non – negotiable, so the idea of it indirectly being questioned every time I read ‘puso’, as if to say we do not have heart if we do not win offends me. If we lose a game we may not be as skilled, as tall, as fluid or whatever, but it’s certainly not because we lack heart. If anything we might have too much heart. Let’s talk basketball tangibles – shooting, assists, defense, and the like. But don’t talk to me about not having heart. Never ever doubt heart.

Whew. Ok moving on:

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Fiba-Asia 2013 Phils v. Qatar 2013. Alternative Name: Japeth Has Learned To Wield The Force

Ok here we go, starting with thoughts on Qatar:

They play like a bunch of hacked together talents – Which means they are either under coached or have just not had enough time to play together. They do not have any plays and rely mostly on exploiting match ups. Failing that it’s basically excursions by their best player, whoever that may be at the time, which explains why their point guard will occasionally be scoring. This will work in the short term primarily because our PGs are far too small to defend anyone properly, but as with any coach will tell you a driving point guard is a recipe for disaster because it leaves their team open for transition.

The most telling sign of their lack of cooperation is their inability to help their best player get an open shot. At the latter part of the game when they needed points most, Jarvis Hayes was their man. Unfortunately the rest of the Qatar team didn’t seem to see it that way and wouldn’t help him out. There were no diversions, no sets or picks made for him and he had to deal with the long arms of Gabe Norwood or sometimes even multiple defenders, a tall order for any scorer.

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QATAR chose the wrong team to run against – A lot of the game was run and gun which worked tremendously to our advantage. If there’s one thing Gilas can do, that is run, and run it did, so when Qatar decided to play that way I was more or less at ease. Our first team can run, our second team can run, and even our often used bigs are no slouches. We even have a big who can not only run, he can Continue reading “Fiba-Asia 2013 Phils v. Qatar 2013. Alternative Name: Japeth Has Learned To Wield The Force”

4th FIBA Asia Cup Schedule

Sep. 14 Philippines vs. China 330pm LIVE, 8pm REPLAY
Sep. 15 Philippines vs. Lebanon 8pm VIA SATELLITE
Sep. 16 Philippines vs. Uzbekistan 1pm LIVE, 7pm REPLAY
Sep. 17 Philippines vs. Macau 1030am LIVE, 8pm REPLAY
Sep. 20 Quarterfinals 8PM
Sep. 21 Semi Finals 1 & 2 330pm
Sep. 22 Battle for 3rd and Finals 1pm

Subject to change without notice!!

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