After steering Gilas Pilipinas to an ego-boosting win over Cambodia in the final of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games, national coach Chot Reyes proposed sending young players to the next Games in Thailand.
There is merit in Chot’s proposal.
Instead of sending Philippine Basketball Association players, it would be wise to revisit our old template.
After all, we’ve been doing this for the longest time since 1977.
The arrangement was clear cut.
PBA players compete in the Asian Games and amateur and collegiate players get to play in the SEA Games, the Southeast Asia Basketball Association and the Asian Basketball Confederation, now known as the FIBA Asia Cup.
This was thrown out of the window when Gilas was pushed by Thailand and Indonesia during the Singapore Games in 2015.
The team was then coached by Tab Baldwin and made up of then amateur stars Kiefer Ravena, Troy Rosario, Scottie Thompson and Almond Vosotros with Marcus Douthit as our naturalized players.
Fearing defeat, PBA players were sent to battle after Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia showed vast improvements, thanks to the creation of the Asean Basketball League.
Some pros reinforced the national team in 2017.
When the country hosted the Games in 2019, Gilas opted for an all-PBA roster.
The trouble with fielding all-pro squad is that the three-conference format of the PBA makes it impossible to prepare the team properly.
This is the reason why Gilas Pilipinas was dethroned by Indonesia in Vietnam last year.
It is a testament to Gilas’ fighting spirit that they were able to get back at Cambodia in the SEAG final.
But the players can only take so much. Their bodies also need to rest and recharge.
Talents abound in the amateur ranks.
With a competent coach and lengthy preparation, there is no reason why our young players won’t get the job done.
It is a choice between a well-prepared young team and a hastily-formed squad made up of top pros.
I go for our young players.
It’s a win-win situation.
Even if our young players lose, they will still get valuable experience.
With PBA players already out of the equation, more and more amateurs will be motivated to play for the national team, realizing that this is a stepping stone to the PBA.
By returning to amateurs the honor of representing the country in the SEA Games, collegiate leagues will benefit from the added motivation.
So what if we don’t win the gold?
The loss will give us the incentive to raise the quality of amateur basketball in the country.
