For Gilas Pilipinas’ marketing campaign within the 2023 FIBA World Cup, GMA News Online linked with Milos Jovanovic, a veteran Serbian sportswriter with an curiosity in Philippine basketball, to assist break issues down from an outdoor perspective. Read his previews of the Philippines-Angola recreation right here and the Philippines-Italy recreation right here.
It was, actually, a sight to behold.
After the ultimate buzzer sounded, the digicam eye caught mercurial Facu Campazzo, a veteran of many battles – be it with Argentina, Real Madrid, or throughout his temporary NBA spells – trying completely crestfallen, head in his palms. Behind him, Nico Laprovittola and Carlos Delfino – sure, the Carlos Delfino, the person with two Olympic medals (together with the vaunted gold from Athens), 500+ NBA appearances and numerous different honours on his resume – couldn’t consider it both. And neither might the throng of albiceleste supporters who gathered within the beloved Polideportivo Islas Malinas corridor within the coastal resort city of Mar del Plata. Argentina was not heading to the World Cup – for the primary time since 1982.
The choose, jury and the executioner, nevertheless, was on the premises and would have none of that grief. It was the unfancied Dominican Republic who delivered the knockout blow to the Argentines in a deciding FIBA World Cup qualifier, and they’d not be denied their second of glory.
(Jean Montero of Dominican Republic, FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers. Photo: fiba.basketball)
After Jean Montero put his staff 4 factors up with eighteen seconds to go on a layup, it was only a matter of holding quick for one final onslaught. And as soon as the triple hoisted by Laprovittola failed to seek out its mark, and Andres Feliz corralled his fourth and final rebound of the sport, the celebrations had been on. For the third time in a row, and solely fourth time within the historical past, the Carribbean aspect will compete with the world’s most interesting. And by the appears of it, they gained’t accept nothing this time round.
So far, the Dominicans performed a reasonably unremarkable position within the worldly hoops historical past. Other than a spate of Centrobasket, a now-defunct FIBA biannual contest for the nations of central America, medals, their solely main foray into the world of aggressive worldwide basketball got here in 2011 – by the way, at Mar del Plata – once they gained bronze on the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship, now generally known as the AmeriCup. Back then, it was the likes of Charlie Villanueva, Cisco Garcia and, after all, Al Horford who saved the Dominican flag flying excessive – they misplaced to Brazil within the semifinal spherical, however prevailed over regional rival Puerto Rico within the wrestle for the final podium place.
Al Horford gained’t be round for this one – he was a part of the prolonged roster, however in the end needed to cancel because the rigours of the NBA season caught up together with his growing older physique. However, the Dominicans gained’t be going to Manila with their weapons unloaded, as the most important asset they might presumably have mustered is totally commited and on board – Karl-Anthony Towns. The Minnesota Timberwolves franchise participant – arguably one of many greatest names to don the Wolves’ teal jersey this aspect of sure Mr. Kevin Garnett – is with the squad and shall be trying ahead to creating his mark on the earth of FIBA basketball. Talk a couple of main league reinforcement for the robust, gritty bunch who went all the way down to Argentina to claw out their World Cup ticket.
(Dominican Republic vs Gilas Pilipinas, 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. Photo: fiba.basketball)
It wasn’t that way back that Gilas Pilipinas confronted the Dominicans in a significant recreation of basketball. Back on the Belgrade OQT in 2021, on the peak of COVID-crisis, the Tab Baldwin-led squad held their very own for the primary twenty minutes, and went into the halftime break with a slender two level lead. However, the floodgates actually opened within the third body, and the Filipino backline had no solutions for the likes of Victor Liz, Gelvis Solano and Michael Torres Cuevas, who mixed for 64 out of 94 complete factors for the Carribbean aspect. The finish consequence – a twenty-seven level blowout – was a harsh however becoming judgement for the younger Gilas squad new to this degree. The message was easy, however highly effective – extended spells out of focus can and can price you whenever you’re taking part in in opposition to skilled worldwide sides.
The circumstances have barely modified since then. For one, it gained’t be the ghostly sight of empty stands which is able to greet the gamers as soon as they grace the hardwood – with the occasions of COVID now firmly within the rear mirror (hopefully for good), the Gilas will rely on a full home to cheer them on of their giant-killing activity. And the “full home“ right here means quite a bit – the opener is slated to tip off on the earth’s largest indoor area, the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, which holds a most seating capability of fifty-five thousand folks.
Some issues, nevertheless, stay the identical. The hero of the Belgrade win, Victor Liz, is captaining the squad. The 6’2“ thirty-seven 12 months outdated veteran, at the moment on the books of the Puerto Rican aspect Capitanes de Arecibo, has now actually seen all of it and the sport holds few secrets and techniques for him. His tempo won’t be his strongest assett anymore, and his three-ball just isn’t as stellar because it was, however make no mistake – he’s the glue which retains the squad collectively. He will take duty within the crunch and won’t shrink back from choices, and the staff respects his seniority and expertise he brings to the desk.
(Victor Liz, Eloy Vargas, and Rigoberto Mendoza of Dominican Republic. Photo: fiba.basketball)
But Liz just isn’t the one veteran presence on the squad. The 6’11“ pivot Eloy Vargas, who as soon as performed for John Calipari at Kentucky and gained the nationwide championship defending their ranks, is unsurprisingly there as effectively. If Liz has seen all of it as I wrote above, then Vargas wrote a e book on it – his skilled profession took him from Puerto Rico to Iran, with stops in Spain, Uruguay, France, Brazil, Greece and plenty of others alongside the way in which. Much like Liz, he’ll characteristic in his third World Cup – however this time, a bit out of the starring position, primarily spelling Towns when he’s in a necessity of a breather.
And what will we inform of Towns that you just don’t already know? The New Jersey born seven-footer, who traces his Dominican lineage via his mom’s aspect, is a person of many abilities. He is usually a dominating presence within the submit on each ends, both as a rim protector whereas defending, or a one-man wrecking machine when his teammates have the possession. While the accidents did gradual him down massively within the latest few seasons (he suited up for under thirty-one recreation in the latest marketing campaign), he does stay fleet-footed and elusive must you try and outmuscle him and can resort to punishing you from across the paint. Most of all, he isn’t in any respect shy to showcase one of many deadliest additions to his repertoire – his three-point shot, which might presumably see him steal a while on the energy ahead slot in case the Dominicans decide to go huge.
(Karl-Anthony Towns and Eloy Vargas of Dominican Republic. Photo: fiba.basketball)
The remainder of the squad incorporates a neat mixture of younger and outdated. Forward LJ Figueroa parlayed his sturdy season on the South Bay Lakers into an European contract, and he’ll be that includes for the German aspect Ratiopharm Ulm as soon as the World Cup wraps. Angel Delgado, who led the celebrated Spanish ACB league in rebounding whereas at Bilbao and had a spell with the LA Clippers, can be coming off a stable marketing campaign in Turkey. It can be doubtless that Delgado will begin on the energy ahead slot, with Towns manning the middle place.
Lester Quinones, Andres Feliz and Jean Montero are the rising forces. Quinones just isn’t an unknown for the followers of lower-tiered North American basketball – the Brentwood, NY native has been bouncing up and down from Santa Cruz to the Golden State Warriors, incomes a pair of ten-day contracts alongside the way in which. His capturing and youthful hustle from the small ahead place imply quite a bit to this staff, which might run into chilly spells from the perimeter at occasions. Feliz and Montero will doubtless break up level guard duties – and whereas the previous will present steady beginning minutes, a lot is anticipated from the twenty-year outdated Montero, at the moment below contract with Real Betis of Spanish ACB. It was, in any case, him who delivered the top verdict to the hapless Argentines again in February at Mar del Plata, capping his in any other case stellar 22-point efficiency.
The coach, Nestor “Che“ Garcia, warrants a particular point out. The well-traveled Argentine, who has managed extra skilled golf equipment than a duck has feathers, and beforehand held nationwide posts at Uruguay, Venezuela and his residence nation, has a degree to show as effectively. The miracle of Mar del Plata was one of many crowning achievements of his profession – no matter occurs in Manila shall be simply the cherry on high of his basketball cake. It shall be as much as him to seamlessly transition Towns right into a devoted staff participant the Quisqueyanos can depend on. If he succeds, this staff may but make some shockwaves within the match.
But earlier than any of that, they must go previous Gilas within the opener. Well, correction, not simply Gilas… there shall be this small matter of fifty-plus thousand loud Filipinos cheering their compatriots on to attainable glory. And very like the Dominicans, the house squad has some new faces of their very own – not many stay from the Belgrade marketing campaign two years in the past which targeted on youth (in reality, solely Kai Sotto and Dwight Ramos are held over).
The Gilas backcourt, which options some succesful scorers of their very own, can run with one of the best of them – and anticipate Jordan Clarkson to characteristic closely. The coach is “new“ as effectively – should you can name Chot Reyes, the veteran nine-time PBA champion who led the Gilas in the course of the 2014 World Cup and gained the Asian Cup bronze in Wuhan in 2014, new.
The classes, nevertheless, stay a lot the identical. Drop your focus, and dangerous issues will occur. Tab Baldwin’s boys noticed the sunshine briefly, however then it was curtains. If Coach Chot could make his troops linger on this recreation lengthy sufficient, they usually execute what they got down to do – the Dominicans may but see their World Cup goals crumble on the first hurdle.
—JMB, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
