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New team Gilas Pilipinas Men did an impressive job in the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup Qualifiers, sweeping Thailand in two games. The young team definitely lived up to the hype and accepted the challenge of being the next face of the national team.
As Gilas shifts his focus to the next window, we might want to take the time to assess how some of the stars fared. Although all of Gilas’s players played splendidly in the two explosive games against Thailand, there were those who shone a little more than the rest.
Here are some takeaways from Gilas’ second window:
Dwight Ramos is a star
Gilas’ last two games were a coming out party for Dwight Ramos. He had a perfect game in the first fight against the Thais, going 7 of 7 from the field, including 2 of 2 from beyond the arc and four free throws for 20 points. He also had 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 3 steals as if he played basketball effortlessly. Although he turned deadly in the second game with 13 points on 4 of 10 shots, he was still a significant factor on both ends of the floor.
It’s hard to believe the boy hasn’t played in college yet, yet he’s already a key member of the national team after three games (5 points in 16 minutes against Indonesia in the first round). It shows that he has the constitution and intelligence to master a game. He can crash the boards against other greats, run the offense with ease, and score when necessary.
And while Tab Baldwin will be the first to tell you that their teams are not based on individuals or star power, Dwight Ramos fits well into their system. He appears as 6ft 4in, which means he could compete on the glass, but he also has the speed and control of a fast guard. He has a great sense of the game and it will bode well for Gilas’ future.
The Gómez de Liaño brothers belong to the national scene
Juan and Javi Gómez de Liaño played as if they had something to prove. Juan’s plays and shots were on full display and he seemed like a natural at point guard. Javi, for his part, was in turbo mode when he stepped onto the pitch. He was fast and aggressive, but never careless or out of control. He picked his spots and did a little of everything right.
Juan had a combined 26 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists and just 3 turnovers in the two games against Thailand. And of course Javi was a machine in the second game, as he lost 19 points in a 7 of 8 clip.
The two UP standouts chose not to finish their years of playing at UAAP (but didn’t close the door on a possible comeback) and played with a chip on their shoulders for Gilas. They were already big names in the college wars and continued to leverage their craft over the past year. Juan definitely improved his playing and timing, while Javi transformed himself into a reliable scorer. They were great before, but they have taken their game to the next level on the national stage.
5:04
Gilas Pilipinas capped his stint in the Bahrain bubble with another defeat for Thailand, taking his record to 3-0 in Group A of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.
Improving the front: Justine Baltazar and Calvin Oftana
If you’ve been paying attention to Justine Baltazar’s career, you could attest to how much she has raised her game year after year. As a NU Bullpup and later as a DLSU Green Archer, he has continually shown that he can add facets to his game. Now, as a center for Gilas, he proved he could handle great international men. Granted that Thailand has no towering centers, Baltazar still did quite well against Chanatip Jakrawan and other post players. He knew how to use his length to disturb rim shots and his footwork was impeccable.
Of course, there will be better, taller and stronger players than Jakrawan, but Baltazar has the tools of a defensive stopper. In addition, he has shown that he is more than capable of scoring on the post, highlighted by his 12-point outing in the first game.
As for Calvin Oftana, it was amazing to see how much he was willing to contribute from the moment he was a backup. After not playing in the first game, he went on to record nine points (all from beyond the arc), four rebounds, and four assists in 15 minutes. He was also a gem on defense with a steal and a block. He played a bit rushed at times, but showed he wasn’t afraid of him at the time. There were no nerves to be called as she gave birth immediately.
Oftana was named NCAA MVP in the 95 season with averages of 15.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 blocks. He was not a nobody entering the Gilas program. However, people may forget that in season 94 when he played behind Javee Mocon, he produced just 4.8 points, 3.0 rebounds and 0.4 assists in just 10.8 minutes of playing time. It just goes to show you how hardworking this child is and what he can do once he’s been the center of attention. It will keep getting better and you can be sure it will be ready once your name is called once more.
1:51
Gilas Pilipinas crushed Thailand, 93-61, to open the second window of the 2021 FIBA Asian Cup qualifiers.
Honorable mentions
Trying to produce solid numbers in international competition is always a challenge. Everyone has a role to play, and playtime can be limited. The confrontations and the opponent’s style of play are also important. And in the case of this new Gilas team, having been inactive for the past few months could have been a problem as well. These are not excuses, but simply factors for different players. That being said, standouts Matt Nieto, Rey Suerte, Isaac Go and Kobe Paras all played well enough when they were on the court.
Scorer Rey Suerte had 9 points in 20 minutes in the first game, but only 4 points in 11 minutes in the next. He was slapped with two early fouls and really failed to flow. However, Luck’s fearlessness must be appreciated. He knows his main job is to get the ball into the hoop and he did what he could. In two games, he was 5 of 13 from the field and 1 of 7 from the center. He’s got a green light to shoot and he’s one of those players who doesn’t care if his previous shot missed.
As for Matt Nieto and Isaac Go, two cornerstones of the Ateneo’s champion team, they ran the system of coach Jong Uichico and coach Tab Baldwin to the best of their ability. Nieto was injured in the second game, but before going down, he was the catalyst that allowed Gilas to escape. He was a plus-25 in the first game despite scoring just four points, and then he had 12 points and missed just two shots on eight attempts for an encore. He was a constant presence on the court for this young Gilas team. Go, on the other hand, had a shaky opening game but rallied with nine points and 11 rebounds in 20 minutes of play on the second night. He knew how to position himself in the position and got a second chance for the team.
Kobe Paras was among those who played a lot of minutes in both games. He played 21 minutes on Friday and then 18 on Monday. His combined stat line of 2 out of 13 for just 7 points is an eyesore, especially given his incredible performance at UAAP the year before. But this version of Kobe is already way better than his SEA Games version of 2017. In Kuala Lumpur, his body language was all over the place and he tried to make his way into the game.
Fast forward to three years later, you seem less pressed on the floor and just enjoyed the moment. Before the FIBA Qualifiers, he said that he was going to show his complete game. Forget he only scored a handful of points, but he was a major player in the lineup. He used his size, speed, and basketball IQ on both ends of the court. Paras will contribute significantly to the national team with or without the big stat line or featured dunks.
