Alaska Aces vs Smart Gilas / Aces Put Gilas Back To Earth

In a practice game yesterday, Alaska Aces defeated Smart Gilas 74 - 67. The defeat was an opportunity for some people to put down Smart Gilas - again.

The Alaska Aces relied on an unforgiving defense and a disciplined offense to beat the highly vaunted Smart Gilas RP national team, 74-67, in a practice game at the Reyes Gym last Wednesday.

Universally hailed as the savior of Philippine basketball after their 98-69 demolition of an unprepared and hastily-assembled Powerade Team Pilipinas in a benefit game last Sunday, the Smart Gilas youngsters were doused with the cold water of reality when faced with PBA-caliber players who play with teamwork and discipline.

source: alaskaaces.,com.ph

I wonder when did these people got together and drank the Smart Gilas HATERADE. Yes, Smart Gilas is now carrying the game of basketball in the Philippines no thanks to the PBA. The Philippine Basketball Association better pray Smart Gilas get fantastic results as the sport of basketball will be the victim if they fail. Do you honestly think your league is spared if Smart Gilas fall short in its Olympic bid? I will tell you what will happen, more Filipinos will be fed up with basketball. Other professional leagues worldwide still find the time to represent their country even the great National Basketball Association. Don't give me that PBA has longer season than the NBA excuse since latter has home and away format, its even more exacting. The competition in the NBA is world class. Besides, the NBA believes it is the league's duty to represent the United States, its country of origin. They don't doubt it one bit. Chinese-Taipei's professional basketball league, the Super Basketball League has the same set-up as the PBA with companies owning franchises like Taiwan Beer yet it continues to support their national team. Why can they do that and the PBA won't? I know because they want to support their country, as simple as that.

The write up is so hostile you think Quinito Henson wrote this stuff. Gee, now I know some people in the PBA want Smart Gilas to fail. This is not Smart Gilas vs PBA. This is for country's glory! When will the Smart Gilas haters get that?

Luckily, the Alaska Aces - Smart Gilas match is just a practice game. I do hope Smart Gilas get back at them come tournament proper.


Alaska Aces vs Smart Gilas Notes:
Willie Miller scored twice over Chris Tiu
Japeth Aguilar only had 11 points

Smart Gilas Final Line Up For Philippine Basketball Association AFC Conference / Al-Hussaini, Lee, & Fajardo Included

Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas submitted the Smart Gilas official PBA line up yesterday and these are the players. Al-Hussaini, Lee and Fajardo are included!

Smart Gilas Line Up (PBA)

Chris Tiu
Mark Barroca
CJ Giles
Dylan Ababou
JVee Casio
Aldrech Ramos
JR Cawaling
Mac Baracael
RJ Jazul
Rey Guevarra
Magi Sison
Greg Slaughter
Rabeh Al-Hussaini
Paul Lee
Junmar Fajardo
Magi Sison
Jason Ballesteros

News reports said Eala included Rabeh Al-Hussaini, Paul Lee and Junmar Fajardo in the line up, just in case. Rabeh Al-Hussaini allegedly wanted an opt out clause in his Smart Gilas contract. It means he can get out of team without incurring penalties unlike his Gilas teammates.


A Cebuano basketball blogger (thadz) broke the story that Fajardo has signed with Smart Gilas. At 6-10, he is a great addition, if the reports are true. Rumor has it, he is faster and quicker than the other Cebuano giant Gregory Slaughter.The Cebuano cagers will reunite with their Manila counterparts in November when the CESAFI basketball season ends.

Paul Lee is a great addition I do hope he signs with Smart Gilas. He reported for try outs several times before so it means he was interested in joining the team. Let's hope he still is. At 6- 1, Paul Lee is a tall point guard with great basketball IQ and keen eyes in seeing open team mates. He is also strong. In the UAAP finals, he forced his away into Al-Hussaini, dropping the Atenean and getting an AND 1 for his troubles (he did in twice!).

Rey Guevarra is injured, torn ACL. He fell awkwardly after a lay up against San Beda's Sudan Daniel in last week Letran-San Beda match.

Mac Cardona wants to play for Team Pilipinas

In what many people consider as a statement game, Mac Cardona scored 42 points and was unstoppable against Red Bull, leading his team (Talk n Text) to a 103 - 93 victory.

"I think I deserve to be in the National Team. I admire coach Yeng for his ability to motivate his players. I hope he’ll reconsider me because I really want to play and represent the country. Players don’t get the opportunity to play for the RP team everyday" Mac Cardona told the press.

This is great! While there are players willing to get out of the National Team commitment, I'm glad Mac Cardona is of different mold. I believe most young Filipino basketball players are gung ho in representing the country unlike some cagers in the 90s. This is not just my observation. Knowledgeable basketball fans will agree with me. Hey even Chot Reyes share my sentiment.

"It’s a very healthy attitude. It’s good that we have players willing to serve the country, unlike before na parang wala ng gustong maglaro for the RP team,” Reyes told Philstar.com

I know one player who got a lecture from Coach Jong Uichico back in 2001 for asking about allowance ON THE FIRST DAY OF TRAINING instead of concentrating on practice. His teammate from their mother team sympathized with him, in effect siding with the wrong doer. They were never invited for national team duties again. I hope there are more players like Mac Cardona (who not only stated his intention but displayed it on the court).

It doesn't mean the PHILIPPINE Basketball Association shares the same nationalistic fervor as Mac Cardona. The PBA will stop donning the national colors after 2010 since it is not their responsibility to do so. It is like saying it is not the English Premier League's job to represent England in the World Cup or the Euro (not Generals).

Mac Cardona's weakness according to fans is his weak defense which they say will be a huge liability against international teams. He has short period of time to work on it and show Yeng Guiao, he is really serious in joining the national team. The ball is in Mac Cardona's hands.

Mac Cardona

Nickname: Captain Hook
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175 lbs
Position: Shooting Guard
College: De La Salle University
Year Drafted: 2005 by Fedex
Achievements (so far): 2007 Best Player of the Conference Fiesta Conference
Weapon: Tear drop shot once mastered like Tony Parker could be hard to block in international competitions

This guy is a leader and scorer.

Team Pilipinas List of Tournaments

Here are the tournaments the Yeng Guiao coached Team Pilipinas will participate:

SEABA (who on earth they think will play for them in this tournament, I had an impression they would like some squad to play for them so the PBA season won't be interrupted. But I'm glad they would play since it's almost automatic qualification. There were fears other squads might not be good enough to win the SEABA.)

Jones Cup 2009 (Didn't the Taipei organizers insult the Filipinos this year? Why play in this tournament? It's time to teach the Taiwanese a lesson!!!)

A possible pocket tournament in the Middle East

Another Manila Invitational

News reports say Japeth Aguilar might try out for the team next year.

Due to time constraints this is all I can write about at the moment. I'll keep you guys posted. The preparation is wanting as far as I'm concerned. I wish they could've done more. Who wants to see Team Pilipinas lose because of lack of preparation anyway?

FIBA RULES

Will the FIBA rules be introduced IN THE PBA? – September 10, 2007
I HOPE SO. It means the league is 100% committed to regaining Asian basketball supremacy as naïveté in international rules is often one of our weaknesses. If PBA prepares the national team it might as well give its 100%. No more no less. As previous half-hearted preparations only resulted in massive disappointments, I think PBA should learn something by now. I’m joining the clamor (since time immemorial) for our defeats are getting to be unbearable. It’s not fun to see our players getting “outsmarted” as a pro-Jordan hack said in an Asian b-ball website by the opposition. I want the PBA to know this as it might convince them to revert to FIBA rules. If they don’t fine, their players are not the ones who look like clowns abroad. There are indications however that they would. We’ll keep our fingers crossed.
The most famous complaint against FIBA rules is its boring in my opinion though exciting players make exciting league. Team Pilipinas is the most exciting team in the Jones Cup and FIBA rules is being used. It will not stifle the game provided the players themselves play hard every night. Unfortunately I could cite few players who give their hearts out every game Tubid, Cardona, Taulava, Alapag and usually the rookies. The 10-, 15-year veterans at least some of them look like they are dragging themselves on the court – a sorry sight indeed. My hope is with the introduction of FIBA rules I could see more crisp passing and movement on all five offensive players.

PBA is now implementing modified FIBA rules – October 2007. I’m curious what will happen with these new rules will it make PBA exciting or not? My stand is players make exciting league.

My present verdict is – so far so good! October 18, 2007