Smart Gilas member Rabeh Al-Hussaini out five more weeks

SMART Gilas’s promising big man Rabeh Al-Hussaini underwent a foot surgery and is expected to miss the International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Champions Cup in Qatar in May.

The former Ateneo standout had undergone an operation to remove bone spurs from his ailing foot. The six-foot-seven center will be out of commission for at least five weeks.

That meant Al-Hussaini won’t be around when Gilas tries to improve its fifth-place finish in the Fiba-Asia Champions Cup.

“I hope his [Al-Hussaini] foot heals quickly because he is an integral part of the team’s success and the team needs his size and presence inside,” said Gilas team manager Frankie Lim.

Al-Hussaini, who powered the Blue Eagles to back-to-back titles in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), missed the team’s Middle East tour, including the 21st Dubai Invitational Basketball Tournament, as well as the six-game Australian series where the squad of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) tallied four wins and a draw.

Lim said the young slotman could also miss Gilas’s stint in Serbia, the basketball camp in Las Vegas and a pair of goodwill games in Vancouver, Canada.

Al-Hussaini’s absence was already felt by the Rajko Toroman-mentored squad in the Dubai joust where the Nationals finished a strong third despite playing All-Filipino most of the time in the import-laden 10-team tournament.

Besides Al-Hussaini, Gilas is also missing the services of six-foot-six forward Aldrech Ramos, because of respiratory problems, and shooting guard Rey Guevarra, who was downed by the dreaded ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury.

Despite the absence of several players, the squad still fared well in Australia, where it pulled off impressive wins against Australia’s under-19 squad (78-76), Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) men’s team (79-73), the Canberra Gunners (101-84) and New South Wales Institute of Sports, 82-63. They were forced to a 73-all draw by the AIS team in their second meeting. They faced the Sydney City squad on Sunday night. 

Source: businessmirror.com.ph

APETH SHINES IN SMART GILAS WIN OVER SYDNEY COMETS

Lanky Japeth Aguilar finally showed glimpses of his true potential with a dominating double-double in the fifth and final game of the Smart Gilas national team’s tour of Australia in which the Filipinos beat the Sydney Comets Senior men’s team 93-81 at the Alexandria Stadium Sunday afternoon.

It was the fourth victory in five games against competitive Australian teams with the rematch against the Australian Institute of Sports ending in a 73-73 tie with both coaches agreeing not to go into an extra five minutes since it was only a practice game.

Aguilar and coach Rajko Toroman’s youngsters left the best for last clearly benefiting from the tour and playing their best game against the toughest team they faced.

Smart Gilas trailed at the end of the third quarter 64-66 but played what Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman and former PBA chairman Ricky Vargas described as a “fantastic last period” to win,  with Aguilar finishingg  with 29 points and 10 rebounds while Marcio Lassiter finished with 17, Mark Barroca 14, skipper Chris Tiu 13, Greg Slaughter who has also shown vast improvement on the tour adding 7 , Mac Baracael 6,  Jason Ballesteros 5 and RJ Jazul 2.

Earlier, Smart Gilas whopped the New South Wales Institute of Aports 82-83 after beating the Canberra Gunners 101-84, the Australian Institute of Sports men’s team 79-73 and Australia’s Under 19 squad that played in the world championships 78-76.

The nationals benefiting from the well-thought- out development program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas headed by the eminent businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan will fly to Serbia for a series of games against big and tall European teams as part of their preparation for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championships which is the qualifying tournament for the 2012 London Olympics.

Source: Ronnie Nathanielsz | insidesports.ph

Smart Gilas defeats Sydney City Comets, 81-73

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas walloped South Wales Institute of Sports, 82-63, for its fourth win in as many games in its Australian tour.

The RP training team earlier downed the Canberra Gunners, 101-84, topped Australia team B, 79-73, edged Australia Under-19 squad, 78-76, then fought Australia team B to a 73-all standoff.

Smart Gilas will conclude its Australian training tour with a game versus the Sydney team tonight.

“Every game is a learning process for the team and we hope to keep on learning and getting tough,” said Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim.

After their Australian tour, the Gilas team flies to Serbia for a series of exhibition games against tall European squads.

Smart Gilas, mentored by Serbian Rajko Toroman, is in deep preparation for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship where it hopes to snare a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.  

Smart Gilas Pilipinas (Australian Tour Photo Gallery)
http://teampilipinas.info/2010/03/smart-gilas-pilipinas-canberra.html

Smart Gilas Pilipinas - Australian Tour Results:
March 15 - Smart Gilas def. Australian U19 NT, 78-67
March 16 - Smart Gilas def. AIS, 79-73
March 17 - Smart Gilas ties AIS, 73-73
March 18 - Smart Gilas def. Canberra Gunners, 101-84
March 19 - Smart Gilas def. NSWIS, 82-63
March 21 - Smart Gilas def. Sydney City Comets, 81-73

Source: J. Villar | philstar.com

Smart Gilas Pilipinas routs South Wales in Aussie tour

source: J. Villar - philstar.com
 

Photo taken in Aussie game tour

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Gilas Pilipinas walloped South Wales Institute of Sports, 82-63, for its fourth win in as many games in its Australian tour.

The RP training team earlier downed the Canberra Gunners, 101-84, topped Australia team B, 79-73, edged Australia Under-19 squad, 78-76, then fought Australia team B to a 73-all standoff.

Smart Gilas will conclude its Australian training tour with a game versus the Sydney team tonight.

“Every game is a learning process for the team and we hope to keep on learning and getting tough,” said Smart Gilas team manager Frankie Lim.

After their Australian tour, the Gilas team flies to Serbia for a series of exhibition games against tall European squads.

Smart Gilas, mentored by Serbian Rajko Toroman, is in deep preparation for the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship where it hopes to snare a berth in the 2012 London Olympics.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas (Australian Tour Photo Gallery)
http://teampilipinas.info/2010/03/smart-gilas-pilipinas-canberra.html

Smart Gilas Pilipinas - Australian Tour Schedule:
March 15 - Smart Gilas def. Australian U19 NT, 78-67
March 16 - Smart Gilas def. AIS, 79-73
March 17 - Smart Gilas ties AIS, 73-73
March 18 - Smart Gilas def. Canberra Gunners, 101-84
March 19 - Smart Gilas def. NSWIS, 82-63
March 21 - Smart Gilas vs. Sydney City Comets

Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas intensifies basketball development in Mindanao

source: gmanews.tv

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) divided the Mindanao region into three separate cluster groups to make it more effective with its development program in the country.

The SBP recently held a regional consultancy meeting at the Pryce Hotel in Cagayan de Oro City where the changes in the regional set-up where discussed.

The Mindanao Basketball Region (MBR) is now divided into MBR A, B and C where the SBP grouped the cities and provinces based on their proximity from the cities of Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Zamboanga.

"We will now have to hold regional eliminations in the three areas with the champion of Cagayan, Davao and Zamboanga area advancing to the National Finals," said SBP executive director Noli Eala.

But the new set-up awaits for the SBP board’s approval.

Others who attended the meeting were SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza and newly-appointed MBR A, B an C directors Jigs Jaraula (Cagayan de Oro City), Regino "Boy" Cua (Davao City) and Pedro Alfaro (Zamboanga City).

Joining Cagayan de Oro in MBR A are Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao, Bukidnon, Camiguin, Iligan, Agusan del Norte and Sugirao del Norte with Davao City, Davao province, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, General Santos City, Cotabato province, South Cotabato, Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur are clustered in MBR B.

MBR C, which will have Zamboanga City as the main hub, is composed of Pagadian City, Sibugay, Basilan, Jolo, Sulu, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur.

"The new regional set-up is much better for us here in Mindanao," said MBR C director Alfaro.

Eala said The SBP is also planning to follow the same pattern in Luzon where it will be divided into the upper and lower region. "I think we should make these changes if we want to further develop our basketball programs."

Mindanao will now have their regional championships with the winner advancing to the national finals. The SBP will also appoint new provincial or area coordinators based on the regional directors’ recommendations.

Aside from holding referees clinics, the SBP has also lined up the National Juniors Championships, SBP 33 (3-on-3) Basketball Tournament, National Inter-Collegiate Championship Under-22 for Men and Women and Pinoy Hoops Basketball Clinic this year.

Smart Gilas Pilipinas photos @ Canberra, Australia

source: teampilipinas.info 



 
Smart Gilas Pilipinas (Australian Tour Photo Gallery)
http://filcomsports.org.au/rp-team-in-act.html (CLICK HERE FOR MORE PIX!)

Smart Gilas Pilipinas - Australian Tour Schedule:
March 15 - Smart Gilas def. Australian U19 NT, 78-67
March 16 - Smart Gilas def. AIS, 79-73
March 17 - Smart Gilas ties AIS, 73-73
March 18 - Smart Gilas def. Canberra Gunners, 101-84
March 19 - Smart Gilas def. NSWIS
March 20 - Smart Gilas' Fan Meet & Greet @ Kevin Betts Basketball Stadium in Ralph Place, Mount Druitt
March 21 - Smart Gilas vs. Sydney City Comets 

Chris Tiu uses star-status to save lives

source: Dj Mojo Jojo - mb.com.ph 

Anyone who’s turned on a television over the past couple of years should know who Chris Tiu is.

After achieving great success as the talismanic leader of the Ateneo Blue Eagles collegiate basketball team, the mercurial 24-year-old has gone onto a larger stage in professional basketball, playing for the Smart Gilas team. He also is a celebrated TV host, with two popular shows – “Pinoy Records” and “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” – on GMA-7, as well as a popular image model and a sitting barangay kagawad. Rounding out his list of accomplishments are degrees in Management Engineering and Mathematical Finance. Clearly, Chris is all about worthy ventures.

Chris’ latest may be his most important one. The basketball superstar and all-around nice guy is now looking to parlay some of his fame and renown in teaching others about the dangers of HPV infection and the importance of prevention. He is at the helm of a new campaign against the disease called Help Fight HPV, with a TV commercial in the works that’s set to premier sometime before the end of the month.

He recently joined us at the Good Times booth to talk about his new found advocacy.

“HPV, which is short for human papilomavirus, is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the world today,” said Chris. “But while we all know that HPV can lead to cervical cancer, no one really talks about how men are threatened by the virus as well.”

Chris makes a good point. Women have known about the risks posed by HPV infection for years. In the country, about 12 Filipino women die each day of cervical cancer, a disease linked with HPV. The virus is also seen as a cause of vaginal and vulvar cancers.

But while doctors estimate that up to 50 percent of sexually active people will catch HPV in their lifetime, few seem to know about just how commonplace the infection is, with a great number of cases going undiagnosed.

Even more are unaware of the equally serious threat that HPV poses to men. Certain HPV types cause highly contagious genital warts – a disease that affects both men and women – and that is passed on to about 32 million people around the world each year.

“Abstinence really is the surest way of preventing HPV. The good news though is that, today, both men and women can prevent HPV infection through vaccination,” added Chris. “So I urge everyone to go ask their doctor about getting vaccinated.”

Smart Gilas defeats Canberra Gunners, 101-84

source: Team Pilipinas



The Smart Gilas Philippine National team continued its tour of Australia with an impressive 101-84 win over the Canberra Gunners one of the top teams in the South East Australia Basketball League at the Belconnen Basketball Stadium on Thursday.

A dazzling first quarter where the nationals opened up a 29-14 lead and a tremendous final quarter where Smart Gilas outscored the Australians 32-21 nailed down the team’s third win in four games with Wednesday’s rematch with the Australian Institute of Sports ending in a 73-73 standoff in regulation and both coaches deciding not to play an extra five minutes since it was effectively a no-bearing practice game.

Dylan Ababou seeing extended minutes for the first time led all scorers with 20 points in just over 19 minutes of action while Mac Baracael finished with 15 points, sweet shooting team captain Chris Tiu adding 14 points aside from pulling down 4 rebounds and handing off 2 assists in nearly 27 minutes on the court.

Lanky Japeth Aguilar played just under eleven and a half minutes but contributed 10 points with 1 rebounds and 1 shot block while Greg Slaughter continued his consistent run with 9 points to go with 5 rebounds and 2 blocks in only 7 minutes 42 seconds of action.

Jason Ballesteros scored 9 points and was the leading rebounder with 11 boards aside from 1 shot block and 1 assist. Marcio Lassiter also played a key role with 8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 shot block while RJ Razul added 6 points.

The Canberra Gunners were led by star center/forward Glenn Baird who played in the US NCAA and can shoot the three, with 14 points and 7 rebounds while Jonathan Miller checked in with 13 points and 3 rebounds, point guard Shane Brown 12 points and 3 rebounds and Jamie Mesman 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists.

One of the keys to the rousing win for coach Rajko Toroman and his Smart Gilas youngsters was their ability to keep Macedonian-born guard Zlatko Todorovski in check. The Filipinos went to the dugout at halftime with a 15 point cushion 49-34 which the Canberra Gunners with a solid third cut to 6 at 69-63.

But spitfire point guard Mark Barroca buried a three less than 30 seconds into the final quarter and then pulled off a steal and when Ballesteros scored the Smart Gilas lead was quickly up to 11 74-63. After Shane Brown scored Ababou replied almost immediately and with a three point play made it 77-65 time down to 8:12.

An Ababou triple made it 83-69 before Lassiter and Slaughter split their charities to push Smart Gilas in front by 16, 88-72. Todorovski scored back-to-back baskets including a three-point shot for a 91-78 count with 2:48 remaining A basket by Baracael, a triple by Jazul and another triple by Lassiter sandwiched baskets by Aaron Coddington and Jonathan Miller but when Todorovski was forced into a turnover on an errant pass and Ballesteros scored Smart Gilas enjoyed their biggest lead of the ballgame, 19 points with 48 seconds left to play before Daniel Jackson scored the final basket for the Gunners to make it 101-84.

For the first time in their Australian stint the Filipinos were able to hold their own off the boards with both sides pulling down 31 rebounds. However, Smart Gilas out-hustled the Gunners with 5 steals to 1, had 5 shot blocks against 2, committed less turnovers 6 to 9 , shot better from beyond the arc with 13- of- 28 for 46 percent compared to 6-of-15 by the Gunners for a 40 percent clip and converting 26-of-32 free throws for a high 81 percent while the Canberra squad made 22-of-33 for 67 percent. (by Ronnie Nathanielsz | insidesports.ph)

Smart Gilas Stats:
FG - 31/64 (48%)
3pts FG - 13/28 (46%)
FT % - 26/32 (81%)
Rebounds - 31 (Ballesteros 11)
Assists - 7
Steals - 5
Blocks - 5 (Slaughter 2)
Turnovers - 6
Points in the Paint - 22

Boxscore:
Smart Gilas 101 - Ababou 20, Baracael 15, Tiu 14, Barroca 10, Aguilar 10, Slaughter 9, Ballesteros 9, Lassiter 8, Jazul 6, Cawaling 0, Sison 0.

Canberra Gunners 84 - Baird 14, Miller 13, Todorovski 13, Brown 12, Mesman 11, Jackson 7, Aaron Coddington 6, Heaton 4, Lacey 2, Malcom 2.

Quarters: 29-14, 49-34, 69-63, 101-84

Smart Gilas Pilipinas vs Canberra Gunners (Complete Game Statistics)
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/13/01/65/98/66vjve2vMEe6/

Smart Gilas Pilipinas (Australian Tour Photo Gallery)
http://filcomsports.org.au/rp-team-in-act.html

Smart Gilas Pilipinas - Australian Tour Schedule:
March 15 - Smart Gilas def. Australian U19 NT, 78-67
March 16 - Smart Gilas def. AIS, 79-73
March 17 - Smart Gilas ties AIS, 73-73
March 18 - Smart Gilas def. Canberra Gunners, 101-84
March 19 - Smart Gilas vs. NSWIS
March 21 - Smart Gilas vs. Sydney City Comets

Smart Gilas vs Aussie National Team B Game 2 result, ties 73-73

 
Canberra, Australia - Chris Tiu scored 20 points, Greg Slaughter added 13 points and 7 rebounds, and the Smart Gilas ties Australian Institute of Sports (AIS) Men's basketball team in exhibition game.


 




Smart Gilas Stats:
2pts FG - 27/69 (39%)
3pts FG - 5/17 (29%)
FT % - 14/21 (67%)
Rebounds - 30
Assists - 13
Steals - 10
Blocks - 5 (Slaughter 3)
Turnovers - 12
Points in the Paint - 32

Boxscore:

Smart Gilas 73 - Tiu 20, Slaughter 13, Aguilar 12, Barroca 9, Cawaling 7, Lassiter 5, Jazul 5, Baracael 2,

AIS Men's Team 73- Drmic 18, Bairstow 13, Odigie 10, Hadziomerovic 8, Baldridge 7, Fenton 6, Cadee 4, McCarron 4, Thomas 2, Rowe 1

Quarters: 19-16, 34-32, 52-53, 73-73


Smart Gilas Pilipinas vs AIS (Complete Game Statistics)
http://www.fibalivestats.com/matches/13/01/66/01/27r6524F0ZbWM/

Smart Gilas Pilipinas - Australian Tour Schedule:
March 15 - Smart Gilas def. Australian U19 NT, 78-67
March 16 - Smart Gilas def. AIS, 79-73
March 17 - Smart Gilas ties AIS, 73-73
March 18 - Smart Gilas vs. Canberra Gunners
March 19 - Smart Gilas vs. NSWIS
March 21 - Smart Gilas vs. Sydney City

Smart Gilas: A refuge for the controversial and the unwanted

source: Rick Olivares - sports
 
THERE is nothing textbook about the formation of a national team. Each and every one has its one unique peculiarity, character and different sets of circumstances that add to the drama.

For the Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Team, well, even if patterned after the fabled Northern Consolidated Cement team of the 1980s, there’s no template for it.

After Jakarta, the team made a triumphant return to the country. But the college basketball season was on and only four players stayed behind to continue to train—Chris Tiu, Jayvee Casio, Mac Baracael and Jason Ballesteros—as they had finished their schooling. The rest went back to their college teams, while CJ Giles tried out for the Orlando Magic’s roster.

In that time, Chris Lutz flew in for two weeks to work out and scrimmage with the team. Along with former University of Santo Tomas (UST) Tiger Emerson Oreta who worked out with Gilas, they played a steady steam of exhibition matches and surprisingly did well, beating a number of pro teams that had their full complement of players.

In the international front, national team duties were temporarily taken over by the Powerade team of all-pros that would compete in the Southeast Asia Basketball Association and Fiba- Asia Men’s Basketball Championship in Tianjin, China.

The other collegiate members of Gilas, for five months, ran other systems and were used rather differently and, by the time of their reentry into the national squad, there was difficulty in assimilating oneself again. Never was this more evident than with Dylan Ababou, who played the four-spot with UST (since they lacked a deep bench) and won the University Athletic Association of the Philippines Most Valuable Award at that. With his return to the nationals, he looked lost and out of sync. He had bulked up in a different way that made him slower.

The team, meanwhile, picked up Japeth Aguilar who stirred a hornet’s nest when he was drafted No. 1 overall by the Philippine Basketball Association yet refused to sign a contract with Burger King, the team that drafted him. Aguilar had played for Powerade and its coach Yeng Guiao, who once mentored the six-foot-11 player’s father, Peter, when he was playing for Swift in the then-Philippine Amateur Basketball League.

Aguilar left the Ateneo Blue Eagles after two years to play for Western Kentucky in the US NCAA. There was hope that he could be the first pure Filipino to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA) but injuries kept him from getting valuable playing time and as a result, with not many opportunities, he returned to the Philippines to join Powerade in particular.

He has so much potential and possesses hops uncommon to local big men. But his skills and mental acumen for the game have not yet caught up.

While in Tianjin, Guiao oft chastised him after losing focus on the floor: “You should have stayed with Ateneo. You would have learned more from Norman Black.”

Criticism isn’t new to Aguilar, but he found himself increasingly missing playing with his contemporaries rather than grizzled veterans. He sought to escape playing for Burger King and instead suit up for Gilas. It not only infuriated Burger King and PBA executives.

It isn’t uncommon for PBA draftees not to be signed up, but for a No. 1 overall pick to spurn a club was unheard of and downright unthinkable. The fact that Aguilar wanted to join Gilas gave rise to conspiracy theories with regards to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) where some believed that Executive Director Noli Eala was using the national sports association and the national team to get back at them for his dismissal as league commissioner.

It was far from the truth, but it wouldn’t be the first time the accusation was hurled against Eala.

In the meantime, Giles returned after an unsuccessful bid with Orlando.  The deal with the American was, he could play for an NBA team provided that he play in the requisite tournaments for Gilas.

Whether sound or not, it has never happened before that a candidate for naturalization would commit to three years to the Philippine national team. In the PBA, imports sign up anywhere from weeks to at most four months. So everyone was treading uncommon ground.

 

But Giles loved Manila. Maybe even too much because, after a while, he became a nocturnal creature, and that put him on a collision course with Rajko Toroman who was a stern disciplinarian. Giles resented the constant scolding by the Serb who took affront at the American’s irresponsibility.

With the college basketball season winding down, Toroman verbally wished for the addition of three amateur standouts in Ateneo’s Rabeh Al-Hussaini, University of the East’s (UE) Paul Lee and University of Cebu’s Junmar Fajardo. Al-Hussaini was the only one who signed up while Lee, through UE coach Lawrence Chongson, declined in order to concentrate on the Red Warriors’ Philippine Basketball League club, Cobra Energy Drink.

Fajardo was a little more complex. His Cebuano handlers said that they wanted him to finish his schooling, yet others wondered if their association with the disenfranchised Basketball Association of the Philippines was the cause of the player’s unavailability for the SBP-sponsored national squad.

As much as Gilas was a three-year project, most, if not all, the players’ contracts were not drawn up for the long haul. The national team’s composition was an ongoing process where players would be added while some removed either to stay in the national pool or to make way for other players. In spite of that knowledge, the players got along famously.

In the case of Ababou, the re-entry of the college players threw the rotation and system into chaos.

Gilas cocaptain Mark Barroca returned earlier than expected after he left his Far Eastern University team following game-fixing allegations by school officials. Gilas officials, led by team manager Butch Antonio, picked up a disconsolate Barroca on a day when the rains were falling and the last commissioner of the Metropolitan Basketball Association summed up the team’s recent troubles: “Gilas had become a refuge for the controversial and the unwanted.”

A dark cloud hung over Gilas. As the rain would soon turn into a deluge.

(to be continued)

Smart Gilas prevails first test in Australian tour

source: Ricky Olivares - bleachersbrew.blogspot.com

RP SMART-Gilas beat the Australian Junior National Team 78-67 in their first game Down Under.  

Close game from start to finish. 

The Aussie team was very physical and they matched the Filipinos’ speed and quickness. 

Plus, they had the height! Gilas’ guards got a taste of their own medicine with their Australian guards harassing them no end. 

The Baby Boomers utilized their size advantage by covering Gilas’ outside shooters. JR Cawaling, RJ Jazul and Greg Slaughter were the ones that carried the team tonight. Only RJ was connecting from the outside. 

JR was on fire in the second half and Greg was able to use his size as he defended and rebounded well throughout the whole game. 

Smart Gilas with Australian Junior National Team on the photo