For the Future of Gilas, SBP Should Send a Team in the Asian Games

For the future of the Gilas program, I hope Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will change their mind and let Rain or Shine and coach Yeng Guiao form a squad to represent the Philippines.

It is kind of funny that SBP emphasized the future of the program in explaining their decision but what they are planning to do can actually hurt the program more. 

The most obvious reason is the fact that the games in the Asian Games will eat up the suspensions of the 10 Gilas players that are suspended.

So, we will lose that opportunity. Which means we will not have the best possible team that we can assemble during the next FIBA World Cup Qualifying window this September.

The Asian Games could have provided at least six games. That is enough to cover the suspension of the 10 suspended Gilas players!

Yes. Winning the Asian Games will be pretty hard but by not joining, the 10 Gilas players will not be fully available for the next FIBA qualifying windows.

You will still need to form a team that will have a lot of Filipino players who lack international play experience. Which will then hurt our chances because we postponed the advancement of the availability of the 10 Gilas players.

Instead of practicing early and trying to find their groove back, the Gilas core may not be complete until next year. 

The other thing that the SBP decision makers failed to consider is the international experience that the continental meet can provide to some of the potential Gilas core players in the future.

Kobe Paras, Ricci Rivero and Abu Tratter were part of the Gilas pool for Asiad. Providing them games against the big boys are good steps for their development. 

The Asian Games could be the tournament that Raymond Almazan can use to reinvent himself for the international game. 

Norbert Torres, Rey Nambatac and Ed Daquioag could have received vital international experience. They may not have the potential of being part of the Gilas core in the future but we also need to fill out a back-up pool for minor and easy tournaments.

Fortunately, Rain or Shine and the majority of the other PBA franchises have expressed their willingness to still lend their players for the upcoming continental meet. 

So, the ball is again in the hands of SBP. They can still change their decision and let the Filipino support a basketball team that is dying to represent our country.