Gilas Team

After 900 days, AJ Edu played  his only 2nd basketball game in that period.

He logged 3 minutes, 1 point, 1 rebound and 1 steal -- baby steps from his knee recovery - as  his team Toledo Rockets beat Northern Illinois 100-72.

Hope this is the start of a long-term career.  He deserves it.

Nice write-up on and interview with AJ Edu.  He is an inspirational young adult, unwavering in faith, no matter the constant challenges he's faced.

https://www.wtol.com/article/sports/nca … 70d5d48a8e

Switching over from Toledo, Ohio to Bakersfield, California, where another Gilas player, Dalph Panopio, and his school CSU-Bakersfield are on a major skid  losing 7th straight loss. 


https://tiebreakertimes.com.ph/tbt/pano … oss/231534

In this internet age, I find it absurd for any government to limit students' option of learning to  face to face but that is exactly what the Pinas'  Commission on Higher Education did.  They issued a memo limiting college players to Bubble competition as a way to keep Covid in check when they go to face-to-face in school.   

Sadly, FIBA's February tournament is not Bubble.   So in short, either you play in FIBA or you study.  Why can't they do both? 

The effect on Gilas Team is 3 key players who opted to pursue college and will not play in FIBA
Justin Baltazar (6'8) (3rd best player)
Carl Tamayo (6'7)  (6th best player)
RJ Abarrientos (5'11)   (7th best player)

Those 3 are in the  top 7 players of the National Team.   

And sadly, 2 others in the top 7 will not make it due to ongoing leagues abroad they are playing in.
Kai Sotto (7'2) (5th best player), in Australia league
Jordan Heading (6'2)  (4th best player), in Taiwan league

That leaves only 2 players in the top 7 rotation. 
Dwight Ramos (6'4) (1st best player), actually requested leave in ongoing Japan league to play in FIBA
Ange Kouame (6'11) (2nd best player)

Problem. 

Silver lining is the 8th and 9th best players will play.
Will Navarro (8th best player) graduated from college last year
Lebron Lopez (9th best player) decided to play professionally after graduating from HS last year.

Caelum Harris makes the cut and is officially in the final lineup for Gilas in World Cup 2023.

Fast, strong, tall and athletic....and only 16 years  old.    He breaks the record for being the youngest ever to join senior's Gilas team. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2vc5AoOT8g&t=1s

Gilas playing as imports in other countries are shredding the competition.

Jordan Heading in Taiwan:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyngvyPQrvU

Kai Sotto  in Australia:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTE1dlEh3aw

If USA wins the World Cup next year in the Philippines which is likely to  happen, at least a Fil-Am will get a gold. 

Fil-Am Coach Spoelstra of Miami Heat was named assistant to Head Coach Steve Kerr for USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K80aAKNVz_w

I think by November, Gilas will be able to come up with a final slammajamma dunkfest team similar to what we had in 2019, only better. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3SZA3rADUY

The slammajammers lineup would be:
CR - Kai Sotto
PF - AJ Edu
SF - Caelum Harris
SG - Lebron Lopez
PG - Dalph Panopio (or RJ Abarrientos)

I wish they could add these 2 other players in the final cut:
Rhenz Abando
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRp6c6cZg6s&t=187s
Kobe Paras
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zpCZ0jYI2A

Sad to hear South Korea pulled out from FIBA Asian Qualifiers due to Covid.    Meanwhile, the NZ Tall Blacks and India team have arrived there.

India will have a marquee player in Princepal Singh, who plays in the NBA G League.   Singh is a 6'10 player who has nasty ambition to dominate and showcase his skills in FIBA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQuaCcIZFNQ&t=5s

FIBA has arrived in the Philippines!  Woohoo!!

Let the fun begin!

FIBA starts.

Gilas beats India

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSL4frQAfZ0

As expected, wit the change of a superior to an inferior Gilas coach and  colleges having only in-school offering, GILAS got dismantled by the Kiwis' Tall Blacks.   The lead at one point was as big as 26 points.

Still, big credit goes to the Tall Blacks.  They are a great basketball team, something Gilas can aspire to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMWWjgB5mQo

Dear FIBA,

Let these 2 Fil-Am NBA players play for Philippines National Team please.

Sincerely,

Gardo Fuentes

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A big puzzle piece of Gilas' bid for the Olympics.    He is my "kababayan" here in Nashville. 

Fresh interview (just posted 11 hours ago!) with 17-year old, 6'7 Caelum Harris.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMFAVjl8ZPM

March Madness

Kansas is in Sweet Sixteen.   There is this Fil-Am player Remy Martin  who played sparingly throughout the regular season for various reasons but got inserted in March Madness and all of a sudden, Kansas, which is already a 1-seed, becomes even better with Remy's addition.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqnsNnKHUM&t=14s

The dude topscored for Kansas during the first 2 rounds of elimination.

Forget about Gilas for now because it's Remy Martin time.

Big 12 Championship:  12 pts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gibIp3agxRQ

Round of 64:  15 pts, Top scorer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGuudLu1l0g

Round of 32:  20 pts, Top scorer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wC5S2RROb3M

Sweet Sixteen:  23 pts, Top scorer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z40s0SdXe5Y

Remy Martin is going to the Final Four.   Named Most Outstanding Player of the Midwest Region.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leSGxSyonNY

17 pts per game on 53% shooting, 5 rebounds per game, 3 assists per game in 23 minutes playing time per game.  

FIBA, please approve Remy to play for Gilas as a local.  

I love basketball. It's probably the unofficial national sport of the Philippines. But let's face it. The Philippine basketball team doesn't stand a chance when competing with the well-known and well-financed international teams with bigger, taller players with expensive coaches, trainers, medical staff. Basketball is a big budget sport. 

I think the Philippines should  focus more on individual sports, especially those with weight classes. Weightlifting, boxing, martial arts, etc. Maybe even archery or fencing. And also take notice of women athletes. And encourage women to play sports. Who won the first Olympic gold medal in 2021 for the Philippines? Hidilyn Diaz, a woman . . . in weightlifting. A silver medal was also won by a woman, Nesthy Petecio . . . in boxing.  The other 2 medals were a bronze and a silver in men's boxing. I know that Diaz is a prodigy. But there could be others out there. 

Just my two cents.

I think the Philippines should  focus more on individual sports, especially those with weight classes. Weightlifting, boxing, martial arts, etc. Maybe even archery or fencing. And also take notice of women athletes. And encourage women to play sports. Who won the first Olympic gold medal in 2021 for the Philippines? Hidilyn Diaz, a woman . . . in weightlifting. A silver medal was also won by a woman, Nesthy Petecio . . . in boxing.  The other 2 medals were a bronze and a silver in men's boxing. I know that Diaz is a prodigy. But there could be others out there. 

Just my two cents. @FilAmericanMom

Its some funny basketball and volleyball, where TALL is advance, are so big sports in the Philippines    

In lifting heavy weights is a big advantage to be SHORT both to get into lower weight class and needing to lift shorter distance.   

Example:  A three times World Champion weight lifter is Sofia Loft. She is Swedish but in Filipino size     only reaching the navel at some male Swedes.