Pagasa. Simulan na.

After looking for this article for two days, I finally found it.

RP Basketball's 2016 Olympic Dream. With personal comments on red.

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THE GAME OF MY LIFE

By BILL VELASCO

Given the new proposal of PBA commissioner Noli Eala to form two pools for international competition, we can start projecting who will be on the pool for the succeeding Olympic quests. Assuming, of course, that most of the current crop of Team Pilipinas players will still own slots in the next Olympic bid (assuming the PBA will still bear the responsibility of forming the team), we can perhaps imagine the possible lineup for 2016.

Drafting for size and shooting (and projecting for a little additional growth), we could very well have a very tall, very athletic team of players roughly 30 years old and below by the time 2016 rolls around.

Gabe Norwood, 6’5”, guard. The senior statesman of the team by then. In nine years’ time, these 15 players will have probably had years of international exposure and/or toughening up in the PBA. And if some of them aren’t on your scouting reports, they will be very soon.

Gian Chiu, 7’0”, center. Currently a 6’10” incoming freshman for Oberlin College in Ohio, Chiu, a former Ateneo Blue Eaglet, is a coach’s dream. Though he will be playing in the US NCAA Division III, in nine years’ time (if he hasn’t become a doctor yet), Chiu will be 27, and will have grown up and bulked up. At Desert Christian High School in California in his senior year, Chiu played all frontcourt positions and averaged 17 points and close to 12 rebounds a game. [buti na lang di ka nag college sa Ateneo! lupit. may Pinoy palang malupit mag laro ng basketball na 7 footer! ]

Gregory Slaughter, 7’1”, center. The object of a tug-of-war between the biggest schools in Cebu, the University of the Visayas Green Lancer is a legit Fil-Am. The 6’11” native of Virginia will have learned a thing or two from Boy Cabahug in the next couple of years, and will definitely be a big asset at center or power forward. Imagine having two seven-footers on the floor for a Filipino basketball team. Who would have thought? [sa Visayas?! waaaah. sa UST ka na lang!]

Japeth Aguilar, 6’9”, forward. Currently sharpening his skills (and his elbows) at Western Kentucky, Aguilar shot 55.4 percent from the floor and led the UAAP in blocked shots in his last season with the Ateneo de Manila. Listed on the WK Hilltoppers website as “the first Filipino-born basketball player to ever sign with a Division I program,” Aguilar has already drawn attention because of his leaping ability and defense. [nabasa ko din ito sa website nung team. dunk champion siya dun. ginaya nya yung kay intal na dunk!]

David Webb, 6’2”, guard. Perhaps the best athlete among all high school players in the country. Grandson of 1972 Olympian Freddie and nephew of ex-pro Jason Webb, Spider was an All-Star at the first Nike Elite Basketball Camp. The high school senior is a tremendous all-around athlete, and often looks like a man among boys. Eventually, he will be able to do it all on the basketball court. [Spider Webb?! hahahaha. may dugong player pala talaga ito!]

Clark Bautista, 6’1”, guard. The best high school shooter in the country. Last year, the starting guard of Benedictine International High School learned how to play the point, with devastating results. This writer personally witnessed a game wherein the 5’11” junior hit five three-pointers in the last minute and a half of a losing game, cutting a deficit from 17 to 2. In another game, he hit 12 three-pointers. Will likely play for the UST Growling Tigers, whose assistant coach is high school coach. [sa UST?! wow! palitan mo na si Mirza! dapat may slashing game ka rin!]

Maui Villanueva, 6’4”, guard/ forward. In his senior year at Higashiyama high school in Kyoto, Japan, the former UAAP juniors Mythical Team member has developed his perimeter jump shot and defense, not to mention a deeper understanding of international amateur rules. [nabasa ko ang isang article tungkol sa kanya! malupit daw work ethic nito. kaya ngaun naghahanap na din daw ng mga pinoy players ang Japan! move over Sakuragi!]

Pong Escobal, 6’1”, guard. Perhaps the most composed guard in the NCAA today. The Davao product is only in his sophomore year for the defending champion San Beda Red Lions, but pro scouts are already interested. Can play either guard position with equal skill. [malupit talaga ito! pero mas malupit pa rin si LA!]

Rico Maierhofer, 6’7”, forward. Perhaps the most athletic big man in the UAAP, playing out of position at power forward or center. The De La Salle Green Archer is developing his outside shot, and has become a much more potent defender. [developing what?! hahaha. takaw foul si rico. pero yung rebounding niya malupit!]

Jervy Cruz, 6’4”, forward. Unstoppable in the UAAP, MVP material in any amateur league. Cruz has been polished into the mold of a Benjie Paras by Pido Jarencio at the Growling Tigers. If he develops more moves facing the basket, he will be able to play bigger opponents at his position. [17 rpg?! college player?! da who?! MVP na talaga ito ngayong season! except kung i-frame up ng mga kalabang school ng game fixing or i-plant ang fake documents na taga Zaire pala ito at 30 y/o na! Tapos si Ekwe pa daw ang pinoy. hahaha]

Rey Guevarra, 6’3”,  guard. The upside seems limitless. When he plays in control, Guevarra is a fearless one-on-one attacker. His leaping ability is second to none, and his dribbling skill gradually getting better. With growing maturity in Louie Alas’ system at Letran, Guevarra can only get better. [Leaping Ability is second to none?! Vince Carter ka ba boy?! I'll let JC Intal and his crying face dunk over  that Intramuros face of yours!]

Riego Gamalinda, 6’4”, guard/ forward. Perhaps the most versatile player on this lineup. Can play off-guard to power forward, but is also a  versatile offensive player, and works hard on defense. Another player whose potential seems limitless. [di ko masabi kung andito dapat siya. pero Al-Jamal would be better. almost same height pero mas ok ang shooting ni Al-Jamal]

Patrick Cabahug, 6’2”, guard. The best shooter in the UAAP, with the size to match. With Bautista and Cabahug spelling each other, we’d have no problems with outside shooting. If Cabahug can bulk up and learn to create shots for himself, he can be a big threat from outside and going in to the basket. [boooooo! TANGINA MO! ang TAKAW MO! F4 dapat ag AdU last season! kinuha mo ang play na dapat ay kay Bono!]

Jason Castro, 5’10”, guard. The most polished player in this lineup. Even as a member of the SEABA juniors champion team three years ago, Castro already looked like a young Tony Parker. [lupit nitong hayop na ito! yung 20 pt lead ng Beda nung Game 3 ng finals halos siya lang kumain! yun nga lang talo. Hyper like Tubid pero may control.]

Of course, there are several other players who could be on this list, and this is just a projection. Still, this team would have the size, skill and athletic ability to match up with the toughest teams in Asia.

And there’s nothing wrong with dreaming, is there?
Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=87103

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Bakit pala wala si Jojo Duncil? Si LA Tenorio? Saka yung best kept secret ng UST, si Raymond Olgado (yung may reklamo gawa kayo ng blog nyo!)? Magiging Fil-Am na rin ako by that time! hahaha

BTW, I've heard na BAKA mag naturalize ng isang foreinger para sa team. May nabasa akong BAKA si Sam Ekwe (SBC), in case mag mature agad ang laro niya. Meron din na nagsabi na baka taga Middle East ang i-naturalize. Kung ako tatanungin, dapat wag na. Kasi kitang kita yung tunay na Filipino sa pagdating sa paglalaro under the RP Flag. Tingnan nyo si Alapag. Ayun ang Filipino! Pati si Kerby, malupit. Kahit dati ayaw ko sa kanya. Asi-hater ako dati pero nung nakita ko ang tiyaga nya sa laro, nasabi ko, taena, pinoy talaga ito. Pero si MARK "THE TRAITOR" Caguiao, pak u ka boy! Di ka Pinoy Go back to the States and play ball with em niggas. Talo ka pa nina Kelly Williams at Gabe Norwood!

Dapat palang gawin ay mag migrate yung magagaling magbasketball sa Pinas tapos magpakasal sa mga 'Kano para tumagkad tapos yung basketball genes mailipat sa anak. eugenics ba tawag dito? Bloodline project yung word na pumapasok sa utak ko eh.

Anyway, suportado ko na agad ang lahat na Team Pilipinas!