A gold medal and nothing less.
That is the goal of the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team when it kicks off its title-retention drive in the Hanoi Southeast Asian Games next month.
“This is not a walk in the park. If you are the defending champion may malaki kang bull’s-eye. But the expectation is (to win) nothing but the gold. Hindi pwedeng matalo,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas deputy executive director Butch Antonio during Tuesday’s online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum.
The team’s final lineup, however, still has to be completed.
“We requested if we can push the deadline a little,” said Antonio, adding that the SBP has in its hands 16 names led by six-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo but has yet to prune it down to the final 12 way past the March 12 deadline for submission to the Philippine Olympic Committee.
“We just want to make sure of the final lineup,” said the SBP official, who stressed the importance of winning the gold and at the same time acknowledging the pressure that lies on their shoulders.
Multi-titled PBA coach Chot Reyes will be at the helm of the Gilas campaign which also includes retaining the SEA Games crowns in women’s 5×5 and both the men’s and women’s 3×3.
Antonio said the 5×5 team is “full steam ahead” in practice, while the women’s team is perhaps a step ahead under coach Pat Aquino. The 3×3 squads are all in place as well and geared up for the title drive.
“We (as a team) talked about it one time and reiterated that there’s no other route and no other way except gold. Must yan,” said Antonio during the forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Unilever, Amelie Hotel Manila, and the Philippine Amusements and Gaming Corporation.
Aside from Fajardo, in the 16-man list are fellow PBA player Poy Erram, Kib Montalbo, Japeth Aguilar, Isaac Go, Troy Rosario, Roger Pogoy, Matthew Wright, Kevin Alas, Robert Bolick and Mo Tautuaa as naturalized player, Japan B. League players Thirdy Ravena, Dwight Ramos and William Navarro, and young guns Caelum Harris and LeBron Lopez.
The SBP headed by Al Panlilio is seeking a little more time because it wants to make sure if the 6’9” Aguilar is fully recovered from the calf injury, and if those coming in from Japan have ample time to blend with the system.
Antonio said instead of risking the Ginebra slotman in the SEA Games, the SBP “would rather have a healthy Japeth for the bigger battle ahead like the (2023) World Cup.”
“Kaya iniurong natin ang submission (final 12) kung kaya pa. We want to make sure. The Japan boys, we’re still waiting for them because their last game there is on May 8,” said Antonio.
The Gilas squad intends to leave for Hanoi on May 13 or three days before the start of the basketball competitions (May 16 to 22). We have to submit the 12 names before we leave,” he added.
But to make sure, the SBP has booked all 16 players for the flight to Hanoi.
