TIm's Magic Wand

IT seems Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone is facing, yet another tougher challenge in putting up the national’s final 12-man roster that will defend the Asian Games’ gold medal, the country won back three years ago in Hangzhou. China. After more than four decades.

I believed before that historic triumph, the Philippines, last won the Asiad basketball gold in 1962, held in Jakarta, Indonesia. It was the fourth straight Asiad title. And the names of those members players may not be, or should I say unknown to the present generation. Maybe only a handful might recognize the likes of Carlos “Caloy” Loyzaga, who skippered that team.

The Grand Patriarch happens to be the father of former member of PBA legends and played for Ginebra San Miguel’s Chito along with Joey and movie actress and singer Theresa.

This corner, had the honor and privileged met a couple of them, also the old Roel Nadurata, who one time mentored the University of the East Warriors in late 90’s and Kurt Bachman, who became La Salle’s alumni administrator, during my stint as a sportswriter

Now going back to Cone’s dilemma. Its the same problem cycle that repeats itself over and over again. The players’ availability.

Same scenario three years ago, right after the country hosted the FIBA World Cup, and barely two weeks before his temporary appointment as Gilas mentor and the Samahan ng Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), had given the blanket authority to pick up the ruins left by Chot Reyes.

Cone, with the help of Ginebra San Miguel executive, Alfrancis Chua, gathered all the list of available players from the PBA, after the Chinese Organizing Committee have voided the previous roster put up by Cone. That sent the American mentor scampering for another set of lineup and barely minimal time to prepare and practice, Cone, like in the spirit of never say die, came up with 12-man team roster in the nick of a time.

There where no Kai Sotto, Dwight Ramos, E.J Edu, Renz Abando, and Jordan Clarkson.

Instead Cone his hopes focused on naturalized and Ginebra import Justine Brownlee, Ange Kouame, C.J Perez, Chris Newsome, Troy Rosario, Junmar Fajardo and the Gin Kings swingman Scottie Thompson,and the rest is history. Later on those “Seven Brave” souls who answered the call and stood up for flag and country, all became members of Gilas’ main core or most commonly known as The A Team.

So, would you agree the same old thing?, If the same problem, there’s also one solution?, And I believe it calls for one thing as well. Bring out and wave that magic wand of TMC one more time and everything will gonna be alright.

At present, SBP have submitted to the Nagoya Organizing Committee a 30-man line-up, wherein Cone will pick out the final man roster going that will fly to Japan next month. As early as now, 12-teams are entered in the 5x5 men’s basketball event. Gilas is locked in Group C in the company of Kazakhstan, Bahrain and our regional rival China, whose itching to have its revenge after their humiliating loss to Gilas during the semifinal contest.

Group A is lead by host Japan, regional bitter rival South Korea, along with Saudi Arabia and Indonesia. Group B, which is considered as the “Death Group”, led by former Asia Cup champion Iran, Jordan, led its naturalized and TNT Giga import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Qatar and Chinese-Taipei.

By the way, I’ll leave you this trivia. I mentioned earlier, before that historic win in Hangzhou, during the finals in 1962 the Philippines won its fourth straight Asiad gold right?, Guess who we’ve beat in the said battle for the Gold medal?…This year’s host Japan. 101-67, for a seven-game sweep.

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