This may hurt certain Filipinos out there, for a number of reasons. In my opinion, of course. Let's examine why I am like this frenzied when throwing those Filipino basketball fanatics with reality bombs than just a fantasy world.
Look, the Serbian national team doesn't have imports to parade when they play against the world's best basketball teams. Unlike the Philippine basketball team that relentlessly allows naturalized Americans that instead of patrolling the paint, shoots too mid-range jumpers!!!!
Speaking of heart, I feel that the Serbs have more heart than the Filipinos. Why? Look on how the Serb have gotten this far, without too much budget from their own federation. Two silver medal finishes(2014 World's and 2016 Olympics) and decent Eurobasket finishes. The Philippines may have back-to-back silver medal finishes at FIBA Asia's(2013 and 2015) but finished worst in 2014 FIBA World Championships even they had Andray Blatche and the road to the Rio Olympics, whom the country was hosting the qualifying teams!
Guards? How Miloš Teodosić or Stefan Jović trumps Terrence Romeo or Jayson Castro? Both Teo and Stefan are pass first point guards, and teams benefit and win more with that kind of players. Jayson Castro could pass at times and has a reliable jumper, but Romeo often does the "shoot-first pass-later" mentality, mimicing the American style of selfish point guards! You don't have the height and try to collapse the opponent's defence with cross-overs and me not we mentality! You heard me!
Forwards and Centers? Guess we know Nikola Jokić but Filipinci forgot Srbi has Miroslav Raduljica or Milan Mačvan. But the current preliminaries have some selections: Boban Marjanović, Ognjen Kuzmić and uh, Vladimir Štimac. Vladimir can post up much better than the Filipino's bigs like Japeth Aguilar or even Andrey Blatche. Marko Gudurić's all around play although raw, is what Serbia needs for the future, unlike Kobe Paras, who hasn't developed a game yet..Maybe disturbed by lack of playing time at Creighton.
Serbia has more team-oriented offense than the Philippines, that relies on shoot-first point guard oriented offense. Unless Calvin Abueva will play more or shift to shooting guard, rely on Andray Blatche too much or on Terrence "Crocodile" Romeo's selfishness, they won't even get to the top 3 of the FIBA world standings, or even the set skills of Miloš Teodosić or Nikola Jokić, Marko Gudurić and other Serbs that play their hearts out even with fewer money!
First of all, thank to Hagop Rule. Many Filipino Basketball players cannot play for the Philippines. Philippines have so many players that are not eligible to play. If there is no Hagop Rule, there's no need to get a naturalized player
ReplyDeleteHagop? What is that word? Sorry for asking. Never heard of that word even if I was born and raised in Baclaran, Paranaque.
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