Thirdy, Tuffin and Tab: Bridges built and burned
WHEN FIBA announced that Australia and New Zealand will now be included in the Asian region (turning it into Asia-Oceania), almost all Asian countries were dismayed. While it meant added slots to contend for, the two countries from down under practically reserved two of them for their own.
Historically, we only listed China, South Korea and Japan as teams to watch. We eventually added Iran, Jordan and Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries and former Russian territories (Kazakhstan). Now, we also have the Aussies and the Kiwis.
Relations between our country and these folks have been amicable, and the rumble in the FIBA windows, ugly as it may seem, was clearly an isolated incident.
Both teams and countries have moved on. Even the head coach of Australia, Andrej Lemanis, stated that he would be open to the position of Gilas head coach.
Improvement in the international scene means building bridges, not burning them. Kenneth Tuffin has recently been drafted, and is contributing well for his team, the Taranaki Mountainairs. He is listed as a forward in the UAAP, but is playing guard with potential Tallblacks.
Tuffin is part of the Gilas pool, and his shift to the guard position and his international playing experience against one of the most feared teams in our region may improve his chances in the Final selection.
NCAA bans Foreign Student Athletes
The NCAA has confirmed that they are burning bridges with foreign student athletes (FSAs). This has led to an overwhelmingly negative reaction from both college players and fans. Many college stars acknowledge that playing against the taller, stronger imports.
Recently, former NCAA stars CJ Perez and Robert Bolick were chosen for Gilas, and they have credited playing with and against imports for their confidence in facing behemoths in FIBA Asia and the World Cup. Heck, even Raymond Almazan of anti-import advocate Letran acknowledged that he was toughened by playing against imports.
We’ve actually been advocating a league where the FSAs of good standing can actually continue to play professionally, but no such league exists. Both the PBA and MPBL are not open to let them play as locals.
It is definitely a waste. Many of these players are not “mercenaries” and are actual students. Bright Akhuetie is even a dean’s lister in what is recognized as the nation’s top university. If there is a local league where these players can play professionally, it would definitely have a strong following.
The International Path
The talent exchange should have begun. Thirdy and Tuffin are far from the last players who will choose to play overseas. Gilas would soon be bannered by players with international experience, some actually homegrown.
Kai Sotto and Sage Tolentino (I’m placing my bet on this) are in the US, and they are among our most talented junior players. Sotto is homegrown, and Francis Lopez of Ateneo may follow his path. Bridges are being built in the East and the West, and we have more juniors who would be willing and qualified. of them,
Baldwin bridge burned
There was an apology and there was a fine, but Talk n’ Text eventually let go of Assistant Coach Tab Baldwin. Releasing Tab was supposedly in the cards even before the quarantine, but they waited until he said something that sent the PBA and local coaches fuming. Having more money really makes you think everyone else was born yesterday.
It’s better that way. Tab knows what the PBA is, and that is why he is already planning a PBA-free Gilas. He never seemed to belong there since the PBA is not really open to change. TNT had to make the classic “iwaspusoy” move.
The PBA 2020 Draft
This will be very difficult to project, let alone predict. In all likelihood, there would only be one conference played — the Philippine Cup. Would that be the basis of the draft order? It would then be easier to tank. With Covid-19, you can easily say that players refused, lose a lot of games and get better position. But for whom? Who will be in the draft this year? Thirdy Ravena sure won’t be.