Can cramming do it for Gilas Pilipinas?

Iran, as expected, remained the top team (to beat) based on the latest Power Ranking released by Fiba Asia in time for the region’s Olympic qualifying tournament set to start on Wednesday in Hunan, China.

Iran is the reigning Asian basketball champion. China, in a determined drive to regain Asian supremacy, is rated No. 2, followed by the Philippines.

The Philippines, represented by the Gilas Pilipinas squad, has been ranked third, based on its showing in the Jones Cup and the MVP Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas finished second to Iran in the Jones Cup in Taipei, and later topped the MVP Cup at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

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It was noted in the Fiba Asia ranking that the Philippines showed improvement in its last two tournaments.

Host China got its lofty ranking for its homecourt advantage, “plus the biggest lineup in the field featuring four players standing seven feet.”
Jordan, coached by former Gilas mentor Rajko Toroman, is fourth in the Fiba Asia ranking.

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Regarding the supposed improved showing by the Philippines, it should be noted that national coach Tab Baldwin had tacitly admitted at the end of the MVP Cup that they were not yet ready for the Olympic qualifying test.

There was no specific factor mentioned and Baldwin instead took the national team to Cebu in a secluded build-up camp.

While the poor form of the overweight naturalized team pillar Andray Blatche has been a main concern, the light first-round schedule of Gilas in China means time could partly be on the Philippine side.

Gilas Pilipinas is bracketed with lightweights Hong Kong, Kuwait and Palestine, and Blatche could yet make some recovery before the hard grind in the succeeding round.

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Baldwin also appeared pleased with the commitment and weight improvement Blatche has so far displayed.

Based on reports, Gilas players have been going through a merciless grind as they cram in order to come up with a tough and respectable pressure defense.

Of course, the main target is still tall, mighty and balanced Iran, against which Baldwin has been working on fence-off, switch, box-out, shift, trap and other possible defensive ploys.

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Baldwin was also quoted as stressing the need for solid unity and perfect tempo in order to gain control of the floor.

Of course, it’s no secret that Gilas doesn’t have the desired manpower, the proper hardware needed to jump the gun on Iran.

But the credentialed coach appears convinced they can still make it, provided a special system he has prepared works.

As reported from Cebu before the Gilas team left for Manila, Baldwin had to go hard on crowd darling Terence Romeo for playing it soft in an exacting defensive drill.

The unorthodox Romeo, a pesky free-flower, continued to dribble and dance to a different drummer.