Appointed as World Cup ambassadors, 2014 Gilas PH team members serve as perfect reminders to value of forming Clarkson-led team early

Gilas Pilipinas’ Thirdy Ravena against Lebanon in the 2022 Fiba Asia Cup. –FIBA.BASKETBALL

Hours before the Philippines plunged into a match against Lebanon, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) expressed optimism that it had corrected the path of a national program sidetracked by a succession of poor results.

And as Gilas Pilipinas marches down that path—which will ultimately land in the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) World Cup, the SBP is looking forward to less rocky days.

At the center of that optimism is Jordan Clarkson, the Utah Jazz swingman and NBA Sixth Man awardee, who the national program would want to very much lock up for the World Cup here.

“I’m hoping,” SBP president Al Panlilio told reporters on Thursday at TV5 Studios in Mandaluyong City, shortly after officially kicking off the one-year countdown to the global showcase that the country cohosts with Japan and Indonesia.

“When I was talking to him, we said we just have to win,” he went on. “I think he also understands what he needs to do.”

Clarkson, however, is just one part of a required masterplan if the SBP wants better days ahead.

“Obviously he cannot do it on his own. It’s a team sport and they will have to play as a team, play together and help each other,” he said.

Between now and the World Cup, the SBP needs to secure commitments from the likes of Australia pro league youngster Kai Sotto, Japan B.League standout Dwight Ramos and a mix of professional and amateur stars who have contractual obligations to the teams in their leagues.

The need to get the final World Cup roster together for a long time was underscored by members of the 2014 World Cup team that captured the hearts of an entire nation.

“We had a great bond,” said Gary David, who called the 2014 squad the “best Gilas” batch ever.

“We were serious about basketball. but we also had joke time. So we weren’t just all about basketball,” said Chan, who like his former teammates and Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, was tapped as local ambassador for the global showcase.

“I think that massively helped the team—our camaraderie. Our bond. That was key to our being successful. We were able to bring that, going into the World Cup.”

Korea slayer

That Gilas Pilipinas team—which scored a dramatic semifinal victory over fierce rival South Korea to book a spot in the World Cup for the first time in decades—stayed, traveled, ate, practiced and played together for a lengthy period before reaping success. The team was formed in 2013, clinched a World Cup berth in the Asian qualifiers hosted by the country before playing—and winning one game—in the quadrennial meet.

And exactly a year before the World Cup tips off, there is no guarantee that the team that played Lebanon’s Cedars late Thursday evening in Beirut (2 a.m. on Friday morning in Manila) will be the one suiting up for the World Cup.

If anything, it is more of a guarantee that this Gilas Pilipinas version will be overhauled.

Roosevelt Adams was the last player cut from the initial selection that flew to the Lebanese capital on Monday, but the former PBA top draft pick, who volunteered to help the national cause while navigating his free agency, could very well be an automatic choice for the home game against Saudi Arabia.

Panlilio believes that even that match, slated at Mall of Asia Arena, could pose problems for national coach Chot Reyes.

“Even though they’re ranked lower than us, you cannot count [them out]. All the [other] teams are getting stronger,” he said of the Saudis, who have a 3-win, 3-loss card in the qualifiers.

Panlilio is aware that the two games Clarkson will suit up for will hardly be enough to forge the kind of chemistry the 2014 team enjoyed.

“It takes a bit of time also to play together so the most important time will be really when we start the three-month period next year and really finding out who the best players [for the team] will be,” he said. “[the two games] will be a good view of what’s gonna happen, the combinations, but again it’s two 40-minute games only. It will give you a view, but not a fair view yet.”

Meanwhile, for the national program, the clock continues ticking.