PBA, SGA loss, Gilas-Pilipinas gain

IN my previous discussion, I cited and explained why the country's present young talents and future basketball stars are heading to go abroad to seek their future instead of sticking it out at home to play in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)?....The reason?.. Very simple... Financial stability.

Likewise, it also came out in the news and publicized in the various social media platform how enticing those foreign offers and I heard it's too hefty to refuse as it being dangled by our Asian pro-league counterparts that somehow lured our best talents to seek for "greener pasture" in a foreign land.

And I guess that people have heard it, young talents in the likes of Dwight Ramos, Ray Parks, Ravena brothers, Thirdy and Kieffer, A, J Edu and our NBA hopeful Kai Sotto, all playing with their respective teams in the Japan B-League, while, high-leaping Renz Abando, sweet-shooting Jordan Heading, Karl Tamayo, R.J Abbarientos, Argel Balaquil. all playing in the Korean Basketball. League (KBL). Filipino-Nigerian Ange Kouame is currently playing in Europe in the French league with Metropole.

But given the fact, the exodus of these young talents to go abroad, has somehow left a space for PBA to fill up, On the other hand, these has given opportunity to other as aspiring and younger talents fill in the gap that their more illustrious players.

Though the PBA may have failed to lure those (as the Tim Cone would called them) "Generational" players to our neighboring Asian pro-league, It somehow provided those young turks gained higher level of play and exposure to tougher competition against tougher competitors thus gaining the necessary toughness they needed to face tougher challenges playing for the country.

Aside from the PBA, which also sharing the same predicament is the Dubai International Basketball League runner-up Strong Group Athletics (SGA), in its build up as it prepares to represent again the an international event, this time in the 43rd edition William Jones Cup, which the Philippines have won it four-times.

In a report came out, just as of this writing. Talks between the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) head Al Panlillio and SGA management head by father and son, Frank and Jacob Lao, requesting the latter to loan a couple of their players already in their lineup to suit up for Gilas-Pilipinas in the coming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia slated on July 2-7.

The said negotiation came at the heel, as Gilas assistant coach and manager Richard Del Rosario announced that point-guard Scottie Thompson won't be able to make it to the OQT journey as SBP, based on the head coach Tim Cone's recommendation, have requested Jordan Heading and Renz Abando as possible re-inclusion of the two players in the national team roster.

Should the said talks pushes through, it will be a big morale booster for Gilas, thought it may somehow affect SGA's campaign in the forthcoming Taiwan tournament. But SGA is willing to make some sacrifice for flag and country. This is likewise made clear Jacob Lao (team manager), who informed the coaching staff of lending Heading and Abando suit-up for Gilas.

Its indeed a big sacrifice for SGA and in the part of the Lao's, as they considered as a great service to help the national team in its quest to regain the glory the country had enjoyed many years ago. The last time country's national team played in the Olympics was during the 1972 Munich Games.

KUDOS to SGA's team management, father and son tandem. Frank and Jacob Lao. Your show of patriotism and selflessness is making us and the Filipino nation proud of.