Terrence, JC, Dondon designated Team Phl hit men
CHANGSHA – With the way they play in practice, Terrence Romeo, JC Intal and Dondon Hontiveros have gained the trust and confidence of their teammates they can deliver as Gilas Pilipinas’ gunners in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship.
Romeo, Intal and Hontiveros are debuting as Gilas players, taking over from Jeff Chan, Larry Fonacier and Gary David, the hitmen of the 2013 Gilas squad.
“They’re scorers in the PBA and they’ve shown what they can do in the Jones Cup,” said Ranidel de Ocampo.
“Romeo was the scoring champion in the last PBA season. And who can discount the skills and ability of Dondon. JC has worked hard to improve his shooting and his game all these years. He’s also got size and he’s a leaper,” De Ocampo also said.
“No reason to doubt the capability of the guys in the lineup. They’re doing well in practice. Besides, the system of coach Tab (Baldwin) doesn’t focus only on the shooters,” said David, relegated as reserve in the Changsha meet.
“What coach wants is to run the plays perfectly and for the players to be smart. If you’re open, you can take the shot,” David added.
Romeo emerged as Gilas’ new top gun during the last Jones Cup where Hontiveros and Intal also had their own shining moments.
In their own tour of duty with Gilas in 2013, Chan, Fonacier and David averaged 9.1, 5.3 and 4.4 points, respectively.
As a stretch four, De Ocampo is also expected to provide firepower from the outside. He averaged 8.2 points a game in 2013.
So does Jayson Castro, Gilas’ No. 2 gunner in 2013 with an average of 11.8 markers an outing.