US talent-shopping key to sustaining Gilas gains

Gilas Pilipinas boys against Team USA in the 2024 Fiba U17 World Cup Round of 16. -FIBA PHOTO

Hoping to be a fixture on the world youth stage, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has embarked on a quest to reel in more talent.

Executive director Erika Dy and former national coach Norman Black, who now serves as the national federation’s lead for talent identification, are currently in the United States to meet with Filipino-American groups to discuss recruitment.

The initiative comes on the heels of the Philippines’ campaign in the U17 World Cup held in Turkey, where it competed against traditional powerhouses, including eventual champion Team USA.

Dy and Black were joined by Gilas mainstay Jamie Malonzo, former National team skipper and now Sacramento Kings assistant coach Jimmy Alapag along with former PBA stars Ali Peek, Rob Reyes, and Harvey Carey.

READ: Gilas boys lose to USA by 96, bow out of Fiba U17 World Cup

“It’s a real process that goes throughout the year. We only see the end result which is the Gilas team. But there is a lot of stuff going on with the youth teams,” Cone said.

“The [U-17] World Cup just finished in Turkey. That team was good. They just really lacked size. They need to go out and find guys that can compete [on] the world stage that are bigger. And that’s what Norman and Erika are looking to do,” said Cone.

Younger players targeted

The young Filipino squad that competed in Istanbul, clipped by the injury of top gun Kieffer Alas, wound up winless.

“The key is that she is trying to get younger players to get their passports by the age of 16. And that needs to be communicated to the communities,” Cone said of Dy and the venture. “She is basically looking for jewels in the rough that she can pluck out and continue the future of the program.”

READ: Gilas Youth gets tough draw for 2024 Fiba U17 World Cup

Another youth squad, meanwhile, is looking to turn in better results in the Asia Cup Seaba Qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which got going on Friday.

The U18 crew, starred by former Letran high school ace and Finals Most Valuable Player Andy Gemao, will try to defend the crown to send the Philippines back to the main tournament that will be staged in Amman, Jordan, in September.