Gilas Pilipinas to raise level of play

MANILA, Philippines — Now that Gilas has hurled the challenge of qualifying for the FIBA World Cup, head coach Yeng Guiao said he expects to raise the national team’s level of play when the next stage of competition begins with 32 of the best squads on the planet vying for the coveted Naismith Trophy symbolic of global supremacy in the sport in China on Aug. 31-Sept. 15.

Guiao said when Gilas plays in the World Cup, it will be a different scale of battle. “We will surely raise our level of play with the familiarity through time together and the possible inclusion of Jordan Clarkson,” he said. “We’ve learned a lot from the journey which we can bring to the World Cup.”

Clarkson’s inclusion isn’t certain but Guiao said that the SBP is working on it. “I’m not sure what steps they can take but we have a few months to make it happen,” he said. “It’s not within my competence to speculate on the process. I know they made an attempt earlier in the case of Stanley Pringle but I don’t know the details of that case.”

Pringle, like Clarkson, is classified by FIBA as a naturalized import at the moment. But the SBP has made a strong case for Pringle to be reclassified as a local, considering he has played in the PBA since 2014 and his mother is Filipina. Pringle saw action for the Philippines as a naturalized player against Qatar in the fourth window of the FIBA Asia/Oceania World Cup Qualifiers and against Kazakhstan in the fifth window. He scored 13 points in Gilas’ 92-81 win over Qatar and 29 in the 92-88 loss to Kazakhstan.

SBP president Al Panlilio has confirmed that “we are working on having Clarkson classified as Filipino.” The SBP is appealing for a reclassification since both Clarkson and Pringle are Filipinos by heritage. Under the provisions of the Philippine Constitution, they are Filipino citizens by blood, not by naturalization.

At the Asian Games last year, Clarkson and Pringle were on the Philippine team that took fifth place. Christian Standhardinger, another Fil-foreigner classified as a naturalized import by FIBA, was also in the lineup. Asian Games organizers allow players to suit up for a country as long as they show passports, regardless of when they were issued. FIBA eligibility rules do not apply in the Asian Games.

Gilas posted a 4-2 record after three windows then went 2-4 in the next three windows with key players suspended for their involvement in the brawl with Australia last July. Docked for one game were Matthew Wright and Japeth Aguilar. Terrence Romeo, Jayson Castro, Troy Rosario and Andray Blatche were suspended for three games while R. R. Pogoy, Bryan Cruz and Jio Jalalon for five. Calvin Abueva had the most severe sanction with a six-game sit-out.

The suspensions put Gilas in a bind and Guiao had to break in more players to fill the void. As it turned out, 33 players saw action in at least a game for the Philippines over the six windows. Gabe Norwood was the only player to suit up in all 12 contests, averaging 4.6 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 21.2 minutes. Two others played in at least 10 games – Aguilar averaged 5.2 points in 11 contests and June Mar Fajardo, 10.8 points and 4.7 rebounds in 10. Six players reported for only one game – Raymond Almazan, Cruz, Greg Slaughter, Arwind Santos, Abu Tratter and Baser Amer. Aside from Fajardo, the only others who averaged in double figure points were Blatche (16.0) and Castro (14.5).

After Gilas clinched a ticket to the World Cup, Guiao said it was “a huge relief, a big load off my shoulders.” Guiao will now await the result of the draw to be conducted by FIBA in Shenzhen on March 16. The draw will situate the Philippines in one of the eight four-team groups in the first round of eliminations.