Why Team Pilipinas cannot make it to the London Olympics?

Image via WikipediaSmart Gilas Team Pilipinas, the country’s representative for the upcoming 2011 FIBA Asia Olympic Qualifying in Lebanon will have a hard time to make it to the top to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. With only 6th place finish to show up after the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, the PHL 5 has a lot of homework to do if they want to be competitive in the upcoming Olympic Qualifier. Though the PBA lend 3 of its mainstays to beef up the national team, it was not even enough to avoid a worst finish by the Philippine Team in the history of the Asian Games. Here are the following reasons why Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas will not make it to London in 2012:

1.Height
The perennial problem of the Philippine Team to defend the big man of other Asian countries will still be the number one problem that needs to be addressed. With the addition of naturalized big man Marcus Douthit, the team is optimistic that they can defend the middle. However, the absence of Japheth Aguilar to injury will affect the rotation of the big man. Good thing is that Philippine’s Shaq version, Asi Taulava is still available for duty. However, the aging giant must have additional complement in order to defend the shaded lane. If only we can still have the bulk bodies of previous RP team such as Dennis Espino and Eric Menk to name a few, we can still be able to match up with the giants of China, Korea, Iran and other Middle East countries.

2.Injuries
The current roster is plagued by injuries of JV Casio, Marcio Lassiter and Japeth Aguilar who was sent home due to a slight posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear in his right knee. Sol Mercado was also slowed down by a foot injury during the Asian games. With only 7-8 months to go before the FIBA Asia qualifying, these injuries must heal as soon as possible. The 2002 RP Team in Busan also suffered the same fate in the absence of Danny Seigle , who was still in his prime during that time. Just imagine if he was in the lineup. The outcome could have been different. Given the history of injuries on the RP team rosters, Coach Rajko Toroman should ensure a proper conditioning training to the boys to avoid any further brittle legs to show up especially next year.

3.System unfamiliarity
With the arrival of Marcus Douthit in the team, another adjustment must be made in the team. The games in Guangzhou just show the results of being unfamiliar to the system of the PBA mainstays. If only they are fully concentrated on the system (i.e. their mother teams have allowed them to stay for Gilas for quite a while), the players could have fully adapt to the Gilas system. Douthit’s arrival can surely be another factor how the familiarity concern will be raised again to the Smart Gilas team.

4.Inconsistent outside shooting
How we wish we have another version of Allan Caidic, who is a dead shot in the 3 point line even the guards are on top of him. The opening loss in Iran in the Asian games shows the problem in the consistency of the wing men to connect beyond the arc. Mac Baracael, Chris Tiu and JV Casio should make those kick out passes from the big men. The only weapon against the big men of Iran, China and Korea is to snipe from the outside. Team Pilipinas is doomed to fail if these shots will not fall in!

Seven months to go before the FIBA Olympic Qualfier in Lebanon. The time is drawing near for the Smart Gilas Team Pilipinas to prove if they can really make it to London in 2012.