Gilas program must go young like China, says De Ocampo

Ranidel De Ocampo of Talk N Text (light) vs Reynel Hugnatan of Meralco (dark). NUKI SABIO/PBA

MANILA, Philippines — With Gilas Pilipinas sure to have a new coach, team stalwart Ranidel de Ocampo feels that the time is right for the country to start developing younger players for national squad duties.

“Let’s start doing what China is doing,” De Ocampo said in Filipino Tuesday, a couple of hours before Talk ‘N Text’s game against Meralco in the PBA Philippine Cup eliminations at Cuneta Astrodome. “Now is the time to do it.”

The 6-foot-7 De Ocampo, who blossomed into the finest power forward of the national team under Chot Reyes’ watch, spoke a day after Reyes tendered his resignation as Gilas coach.

“I don’t like to comment on that, and who I think should be his replacement,” De Ocampo said. “All I can say is I don’t know if I would be available for the next team. I’m not getting any younger.”

De Ocampo cited the case of Jason Castro—“he’s much younger than I am”—who has been hobbled by injuries of late. “Just like cars, we already have a lot of mileage in us,” the 32-year-old De Ocampo said.

“Right now, my focus is with Talk ‘N Text [in the PBA]. The national team is farthest from my mind.”

Reyes stepped down after more than two years as national coach last Wednesday. He had asked the newly formed selection committee that his name not be included in the short list of candidates for the post.

There have been mixed reactions from basketball fans, as expected, but it’s still his former players like De Ocampo who could say with authority what Reyes had been as a national coach.

Should the Gilas program decide to go young, De Ocampo said the only thing the country will sacrifice is the experience of its PBA players.

“The skills of the Filipino player is comparable to any [race] in the world,” De Ocampo said. “If they decide to tap young players, then that team can certainly run, which is the only chance we have of winning internationally.”

De Ocampo recounted his journey before making the Gilas five in 2012. He was cut from the team in his first two attempts to join—the first by Reyes himself.

He also recalled with pride the performance of the team that won the Jones Cup championship and its victory over Senegal in the Fiba World Cup in Spain last September.

He said there’s one thing he will miss most during Reyes’ watch: “That team was like family.”