It’s been more than a year that I’ve updated my blog, but just felt I had to write about my experience
in the Manila Olympic Qualifying tournament.
When the draw was made early this year for the Tall Blacks
to be grouped with Gilas and France , my email box almost exploded! I had grand plans for organizing a Tall
Blacks v Gilas tune-up game in Manila,
so when the draw results were announced,
I first got in touch with Gilas coach Tab Baldwin and former coach Chot
Reyes to confirm what I already knew ( The Tall Blacks are no longer playing
Gilas in the build-up) . What it also
meant however for me personally, is I could no longer in good conscience help
the Philippine team as I have previously if I was helping the Tall Blacks. In essence what it also meant is I should not
be in communication with my friends at Gilas (primary the coaching staff, Tab, Josh and Nash)
2 years prior I organized the first and only Tall Black vs
Gilas game in Auckland as part of Gilas build-up for the 2013 FIBA Asia. I spent the next 2 international seasons
(2014 Spain) and 2015 FiBA Asia China with Gilas , assisting in coordinating their
tune-up games. So when basketball NZ
requested for my help to assist the Tall Blacks , I knew I was in a very unique yet sensitive
situation with my knowledge of Gilas.
While the TB’s were considered as the more experience world level competition
team, playing Gilas at home, made who
would come out winners unpredictable .
The biggest thing to me was how focused and prepared the Tall Blacks
were to play Gilas. To them Gilas was
the knockout quarterfinals game, and
most of the focus on preparation was on them.
While I obviously provided my observation of the tendencies of each of
Gilas players as well as coaching tendencies with rotation and match-up assignments, we watched practically all the videos
for all the games Gilas has ever played with Tab. Additionally we used analytics software to
confirm tendencies.
Most of the focus on the Tall Blacks were on Corey Webster
and Isaac Fotu. Deep down I knew however
PG’s Tai Webster and Shea Illi would be key if not the X- factor. Both players matched up very well against
Gilas guard centric team ( Castro and Romeo) .
At least from the local media perspective both TB’s guards were under
the radar. We also felt Isaac's and Mika's
activity would hurt Gilas frontcourt ( Blatche and Junmar) . Both theories proved to be correct.
When the finals buzzer sounded and the TB’s were
victorious, I was a wreck emotionally
with mixed feelings. Yes I was able to
help the TB’s and scouting proved to be right on the mark but my beloved Gilas
and basically the core (Gabe, Jason, Del , Ping , Japeth ) of the team I spent
these last 3 years with had probably played their last game together in a Gilas
singlet. Wow , the team I so invested in
, I would eventually plot to defeat.
Obviously I know that might not be totally accurate and the result would
be inevitable regardless of whatever I did , but that’s how I felt.
The rest of the OQT in Manila was both a treat and a dream
for me. I finally got to watch live in action my Spurs players Tony Parker, De
Colo , Diaw and Corey Joseph. (who I rooted
for all these years as a Spurs fan) ,
Seeing them play vs my beloved Gilas and the Tall Blacks is something
that was very close to my heart and passion.
The OQT represented the teams and players closes to my heart ( Gilas,
Tall Blacks and the Spurs)
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