What we realized from the Gilas Pilipinas-Thailand video games

The brand new Gilas Pilipinas Males workforce did a powerful job within the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, sweeping Thailand in two video games. The younger squad positively lived as much as the hype and rose to the problem of being the following face of the nationwide workforce.

As Gilas shifts its focus to the following window, it is apt that we take the time to evaluate how a few of the stars fared. Although all of the Gilas gamers performed splendidly within the two blowout video games versus Thailand, there have been those that shone somewhat bit brighter than the remainder.

Listed here are just a few takeaways from Gilas’ second window:

Dwight Ramos is a star

The final two Gilas video games was a popping out get together for Dwight Ramos. He had an ideal sport within the first bout towards the Thais, going 7-for-7 from the sector, together with 2-for-2 from past the arc and 4 made free throws for 20 factors. He additionally had 7 rebounds, Three assists, and three steals as if he performed easy basketball. Although he grew to become mortal within the second sport with 13 factors on 4-for-10 taking pictures, he was nonetheless a major issue on each ends of the ground.

It is arduous to imagine that the man has but to play in school and but he is already a key member of the nationwide workforce after three video games (5 factors in 16 minutes versus Indonesia throughout the first spherical). You would inform that he has the construct and the smarts to dominate a sport. He can crash the boards towards different bigs, run the offense with ease, and rating when wanted.

And though Tab Baldwin would be the first to let you know that his groups are usually not constructed on people and star energy, Dwight Ramos suits nicely into his system. He is listed as 6-foot-Four which means he might compete on the glass, however he additionally has the pace and handles of a fast guard. He has an important really feel for the sport and can bode nicely for the way forward for Gilas.

Gomez de Liaño brothers belong on nationwide stage

Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño performed like that they had one thing to show. Juan’s playmaking and shotmaking have been on full show and he seemed like a pure on the level guard place. Javi, in the meantime, was on turbo mode the second he stepped on the courtroom. He was fast and aggressive, however was by no means careless or uncontrolled. He picked his spots and did somewhat little bit of every little thing nicely.

Juan had a mixed 26 factors, Eight rebounds, 7 assists, and simply Three turnovers within the two video games versus Thailand. And naturally, Javi was a machine within the second sport, as he dropped 19 factors on a 7-for-Eight clip.

The 2 UP standouts opted to not end out their enjoying years within the UAAP (however didn’t shut the door on a potential return) and performed with a chip on their shoulders for Gilas. They have been already huge names within the collegiate wars they usually continued to harness their craft over the previous yr. Juan positively improved his playmaking and timing whereas Javi remodeled himself right into a reliable wing scorer. They have been already nice earlier than, however they’ve taken their sport to the following degree on the nationwide stage.

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Gilas Pilipinas capped off its Bahrain bubble stint with one other rout of Thailand, pushing its file to 3-Zero in Group A of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifiers.

The advance of the frontline: Justine Baltazar and Calvin Oftana

Should you’ve been carefully listening to the profession of Justine Baltazar, you can attest to how a lot he is elevated his sport yr after yr. As an NU Bullpup after which as DLSU Inexperienced Archer, he is repeatedly confirmed he can add aspects to his sport. Now as a Gilas middle, he displayed that he might deal with worldwide huge males. Granted that Thailand would not have imposing facilities, Baltazar nonetheless did fairly nicely towards Chanatip Jakrawan and different submit gamers. He knew use his size to hassle photographs on the rim and his footwork was impeccable.

In fact, there can be higher, taller, and stronger gamers than Jakrawan, however Baltazar has the instruments of a defensive stopper. Plus, he is confirmed that he is greater than able to scoring within the submit, highlighted by his 12-point outing within the first sport.

As for Calvin Oftana, it was superb to see how a lot he was able to contribute the second he bought subbed in. After not enjoying within the first sport, he went on to register 9 factors (all from past the arc), 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in 15 minutes. He was additionally a gem defensively with a steal and a block. He performed somewhat bit rushed at occasions, but it surely proved that he wasn’t afraid of the second. There have been no nerves from being known as up as he delivered instantly.

Oftana was named the NCAA MVP in Season 95 with averages of 15.6 factors, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.2 blocks. He wasn’t a no person coming into the Gilas program. Nevertheless, folks can overlook that in Season 94 when he was enjoying behind Javee Mocon, he produced simply 4.Eight factors, 3.Zero rebounds, and 0.Four assists in simply 10.Eight minutes of enjoying time. It simply goes to point out you the way hardworking this child is and what he can do as soon as he is been given the highlight. He’ll nonetheless enhance and you may make sure that he’ll be prepared as soon as his identify will get known as up as soon as once more.

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Gilas Pilipinas crushed Thailand, 93-61, to open the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.

Honorable mentions

There’s at all times a problem in attempting to supply strong numbers in worldwide competitors. All people has a task to play and enjoying time might be restricted. Matchups and the opposition’s enjoying fashion additionally matter. And as for the case of this new Gilas workforce, having been inactive the final a number of months might need additionally been a problem. These aren’t excuses, however merely elements for various gamers. That being stated, standouts Matt Nieto, Rey Suerte, Isaac Go, and Kobe Paras performed nicely sufficient after they have been on the ground.

Scorer Rey Suerte poured 9 factors in 20 minutes within the first sport however solely Four factors in 11 minutes within the subsequent. He was slapped with two early fouls and did not actually get his circulation. You need to recognize, nonetheless, the fearlessness of Suerte. He is aware of that his main job is to place the ball within the hoop and he did what he might. In two video games, he went 5-of-13 from the sector and 1-for-7 from downtown. He has a inexperienced mild to shoot and he is a kind of gamers that does not thoughts if he missed his earlier shot.

As for Matt Nieto and Isaac Go, two cornerstones of Ateneo’s championship workforce, they ran the system of coach Jong Uichico and coach Tab Baldwin to the very best of their talents. Nieto was injured within the second sport, however earlier than he went down, he was the catalyst that allowed Gilas to interrupt away. He was a plus-25 within the first sport regardless of scoring solely 4 factors, after which he had 12 factors and missed solely two photographs on eight makes an attempt for an encore. He was a gentle presence on the ground for this younger Gilas workforce. Go, however, had a shaky opening sport however bounced again with 9 factors and 11 boards in 20 minutes of play come the second night time. He knew place himself within the submit and bought second probability alternatives for the workforce.

Kobe Paras was amongst those that performed a ton of minutes within the two video games. He performed 21 minutes on Friday after which had 18 on Monday. His mixed stat line of 2-for-13 for simply 7 factors is an eyesore, particularly coming from his unbelievable displaying within the UAAP the yr earlier than. However this model of Kobe is already method higher than his 2017 SEA Video games model. In Kuala Lumpur, his physique language was everywhere, and tried to drive his method into the sport.

Quick-forward to a few years later, he seems much less pressured on the ground and easily loved the second. Earlier than the FIBA Qualifiers, he stated he was going to showcase his all-around sport. Neglect the truth that he solely scored a handful of factors, however he was an vital participant within the lineup. He used his measurement, pace, and basketball IQ on each ends of the ground. Paras can be a major contributor to the nationwide workforce with or with out the large stat line or spotlight dunks.