A Gilas Pilipinas team with Kai Sotto on board would have given our national team a much better chance of pulling off a win against world powerhouse Australia and its fellow team from Oceania, New Zealand.
“Malaki yung diperensaya ng Gilas team with Kai at yung wala siya,” Guiao said in a telephone interview.
Sotto, the country’s best NBA prospect, missed the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers as the Filipinos lost both our home games last week to New Zealand and Australia.
It is still uncertain whether the 7-foot-2 second generation cager would join the Philippines in the third window in July as there were reports that he may try his luck with an NCAA Division 1 squad which will serve as his meal ticket to the NBA, or accept a short-term contract in the world’s biggest sports entertainment.
Without Sotto in the second window, head coach Tim Cone opted for a short rotation up front with nine-time PBA Most Valuable Player June Mar Fajardo, and Fil-foreign players Quentin Millora-Brown and AK Edu alternating playing the center spot.
“I believe mas makaka-draw ng more attention sa defense si Kai, which means it could open up more good looks to the other players,” said Guiao. “Without him, parang kayang-kaya tayo sa single coverage ng mga kalaban sa international game.”
“Kai could also give us a different look, which means we have an inside and out presence because he also has a more decent shot from the perimeter compared to Millora-Brown, June Mar, AJ Edu and even si KQ (Kevin Quiambao).”
Preparing for Brownlee exit, next in line for Boatwright
Watching how Gilas lost both games to New Zealand and Australia was an indication that naturalized player Justin Brownlee remains to be serviceable for the national squad, but it’s only a matter of time to see this great import who gave Barangay Ginebra six PBA championships at work.
“We have to prepare an exit plan for Brownlee and we know yung lifespan ng mga naturalized players, maigsi lang talaga yan,” added Guiao.
Brownlee may be good until next year’s FIBA World Cup, if ever the Philippines will qualify, or could be earlier depending on the status of Bennie Boatwright, who is expected to reinforce Gilas anytime soon.
Boatwright wasn’t able to appear in the Senate hearing on Tuesday, the same day where Malick Diouf and Elizabeth Means were granted Philippine citizenship.
Diouf played for CEU and UP where he led the Fighting Maroons to the champoionship a few years ago. A former Most Valuable Player in the UAAP, he is going to shore up the Philippine 3×3 men’s basketball team in our bid for a World Cup berth and hopefully, the Olympics.
Means is going to play for our women’s 3×3 team.
Boatwright, who won a championship while playing for the San Miguel Beermen a few years ago, is currently playing in the Korean Basketball League, but is expected to return to the Philippines in April and attend the next Senate hearing on his citizenship.
For Guiao, it’s important for the SBP to look for a young naturalized prospect at this time.
“Ngayon pa lang, kailangan maghanap na tayo,” he added. “Hindi yung kung mawawala na si Brownlee, tsaka pa lang maghahanap. Brownlee remains to be serviceable, but we don’t know for how long, so having Boatwright to take over his spot soon is logical.”
“But while preparing for Brownlee’s exit soon, we also need to find a prospect this early as somebody who could serve as backup for Boatwright. What if ma-injure si Boatwright?.”
Guiao said selecting another naturaluzed player depends on Cone’s preference.
“Tim Cone knows best. Nakadepende yan sa preference niya. I’m sure, magkaiba kami ng preference. I can only share my opinion that if I were to choose a naturalized player, I would get someone in the mold of a young Andray Blatche — big enough who can shoot, who can drive snd versatile enough to play multiple positions,” added Guiao.
“But selecting the next naturalized player all depends on coach Tim Cone’s preference.”
