Editor's note: To mark 10 years of the Gilas Pilipinas program, ESPN5.com will be publishing a "Gilas series" with one article a day for the next 11 days. The following examines the potential future of the national team program.
Perhaps the most lasting image of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup for the Philippines is one of abject sorrow and shame. CJ Perez and Robert Bolick -- the youngest and brightest stars of Gilas Pilipinas in China -- stood side by side teary-eyed as they faced reporters after being on the receiving end of a harsh beating at the hands of Italy.
"Wala akong masabi," Bolick said. "Bad trip."
Robert Bolick and CJ Perez were bright spots for the Philippines, but the pair are distraught after the beatdown at the hands of Italy. #ParaSaBayan #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/OULh3H0v6S
— Paolo del Rosario (@paodelrosario) August 31, 2019
Despite the lopsided losses in China, the Philippines did come away with a comforting thought. The young guys aren't afraid to battle against the world's biggest stars and they are key to the success of Philippine basketball.
If things go as planned, Bolick and Perez should be part of the Gilas team that will seek to redeem the Philippines on the world stage. It is no secret the Gilas Pilipinas is searching for the best way to reinvigorate the program after a dismal showing at the 2019 World Cup, where the Filipinos finished dead last in a field of 32 countries.
With the country's proven veterans finally bowing down to father time, the moment has come for the next generation of players to carry the flag and reclaim the Philippines' place on the world basketball stage.
The goal is for a much improved showing in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which the Philippines will be co-hosting alongside Japan and Indonesia. With the country accumulating only one win in 10 tries over the span of two editions of the World Cup, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is looking to improve that record in front of what is expected to be a boisterous home crowd.
While there are already pieces within the Gilas program who would probably play key roles in the 2023 tournament, the SBP is clearly investing in the young stars of today and the future.
Building from within
In the aftermath of the 2019 campaign, the SBP and the PBA announced there would be a special Gilas Pilipinas round in the 2019 PBA Rookie Draft. The special round would assign the player rights to five young cagers earmarked by the SBP to PBA teams. The selected players would then be loaned out to the Gilas program -- where they will be developed under watchful eye of SBP Gilas Pilipinas program director Tab Baldwin.
This isn't the first time the Philippines has singled out young players in the hopes of molding them into international caliber stars. The Northern Consolidated Cement (NCC) team in the 1980s and the Gilas Pilipinas 1.0 program are examples of that model paying dividends in terms of player development.
For recent proof of the Philippines' investment, their latest team that featured in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifier against Indonesia was youthful. Kiefer Ravena, Troy Rosario, and RR Pogoy served as the team's most veteran campaigners, but most of the shine was on the younger players. Collegiate stars Thirdy Ravena, Juan Gomez de Liaño, Dwight Ramos, and special Gilas round draftees Isaac Go and Matt Nieto were all given the chance to showcase their wares at the senior level.
Gilas Pilipinas trounced an overmatched Indonesia team in Jakarta, as the young Filipinos put on a show. The Philippines typically beats their ASEAN neighbor in basketball, but the senior experience afforded to the developmental players could prove invaluable.
.@ThirdyRavenaaa led the way for Gilas with 23 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. 🇵🇭🏀 @Sports5PH pic.twitter.com/M7cvAZYg5P
— Paolo del Rosario (@paodelrosario) February 23, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic put a pause to Gilas Pilipinas' plans for molding the country's most elite young talent -- but we probably would have seen the SBP place college prospects under the spotlight of international competition to figure out who has what it takes to represent the flag in the next level.
Despite the emphasis on collegiate players breaking through there are already players who are set to shine who are already part of the Gilas program. Expected to play a key role in 2023 are breakout stars Robert Bolick and CJ Perez, who both were arguably the silver linings of Gilas' dismal 2019 campaign in China -- and the already-veteran Kiefer Ravena. The trio will all be under 30 years old come 2023 and ripe to be leaders of a youthful team eager to make a splash.
Imported knowledge
While the SBP works on turning the best young talent in the country into international cagers, some ambitious Filipino prospects have taken it upon themselves to try their luck in foreign lands. Without a doubt the SBP also has its eyes on eligible overseas-based talent to bolster the squad.
Understandably, most eyes are on Kai Sotto, the 7'2" prospect who is on the pathway to becoming the first Philippine-born NBA draftee after being signed to the newly-minted G League Select Program. By 2023, if Sotto's journey to the league goes as planned, then the Philippines would have a homegrown NBA caliber player on their roster for the World Cup.
Sotto's foray to the United States has opened the doors for other locally-based prospects to try their luck. FEU's Cholo Añonuevo and Ateneo's LeBron Lopez have since joined East West Private -- the same agency that handles Sotto -- in a bid to make it big overseas.
National youth team campaigners AJ Edu, a 6'11" big man playing at the University of Toledo, and Italy-based guard Dalph Panopio are a couple of foreign-based prospects the SBP has been monitoring for some time now. Only time will tell whether or not these two Gilas youth players can earn a slot at the senior level as well.
A relatively new pathway for Filipinos to gain international experience is to play professionally overseas at a high level. While Filipinos playing as imports in foreign leagues isn't new, it is rare to see one of the country's top prospects nix the PBA Draft altogether and opt to try his luck in another high level league abroad. Former Ateneo star Thirdy Ravena made waves after joining San-en NeoPhoenix in the Japanese B. League as a designated Asian import.
Another Philippine prospect getting reps overseas is FEU's Ken Tuffin -- who has shown he is tough enough to hack it in the New Zealand National Basketball League with the Taranaki Mountainairs. Tuffin has done enough to impress in New Zealand that he has been placed on the Tall Blacks' longlist for the Tokyo Olympics. The question now is which color Tuffin could possibly be suiting up for come 2023, the black of New Zealand or the blue of the Philippines?
While there is a lot of focus on how the country is developing the talent that is based within its own borders, there is no doubting the value internationally-based prospects could bring to the table.
Do what is natural
With the chapter of Andre Blatche finally drawing to a close after five years of service, the time has come to figure out who will be the next naturalized player to help the Philippines reach the next level.
It will be difficult to replace Blatche with the same type of player he was when the Philippines first tapped his services back in 2014. At that time, Blatche was an NBA starter on a playoff team. It would be quite a coup for the SBP to recruit that type caliber of a player for the 2023 World Cup, but realistically that would be far fetched.
These days the debate typically revolves around a few choices such as PBA imports Justin Brownlee and Chris McCullough, and UAAP standout Ange Kouame. The argument for Kouame is anchored around availability and potential, while Brownlee and McCullough possess the familiarity with Philippine basketball that will be tough to replicate.
Another option is to use the naturalized spot on NBA veteran Jordan Clarkson, who would undoubtedly give the Philippines world-class shotmaking ability. Tapping Clarkson as a naturalized player is made more palatable by the up-and-coming homegrown players possessing the size and length to guard big men and wings on the international level. Of course, the ideal would be if Clarkson is recognized by FIBA as a Filipino without the need to be naturalized. But until then, Clarkson is someone that has to be considered in the naturalized slot.
While making a final choice of who should be the naturalized player for Gilas Pilipinas for 2023 might be premature at this point in time, there is no doubting the Philippines needs to start approaching their potential candidates sooner rather than later.
Who takes the reins?
Probably the trickiest part of the construction of the next generation of Gilas Pilipinas would be the choice of who should be the head coach.
The head coaching position has been vacant since Guiao resigned following the 2019 World Cup. TNT consultant Mark Dickel headed Gilas' FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers victory over Indonesia only on an interim basis. While there have been a few names mentioned, there is no clear front runner on who gets the job as Gilas Pilipinas head coach.
The selection of former head coaches Rajko Toroman, Chot Reyes, Tab Baldwin, and Yeng Guiao have shown us the SBP is not afraid of hiring foreign or local coaches for the hot seat.
Yet the question remains, who is the right choice for Gilas to prepare the country for 2023?
At this stage, there are more questions than answers when it comes to how Gilas Pilipinas will look come 2023. But even at this juncture, the Philippines can rest assured the materials in terms of personnel and opportunity are there for Gilas Pilipinas' new generation to flourish.