The idea was to create a national team pool designated to play only for the Philippine flag. That was the plan when Smart Gilas or Gilas 1.0 was formed.
For a while, it looked like the program was working, but the progress wasn't sustained in the long run. The original players would have been perennial contenders if they have only been kept together. While the talent in the Gilas Pilipinas program has evolved throughout the years, the problem continues to be availability.
That makes us wonder what would happen if we pit Gilas 1.0—a group that lived and breathed national team ball for a while—against the current talented pool who barely have had the time to practice together.
We've already imagined what could have been in a Centennial Team versus FIBA World Cup Gilas pool. Now, in this fantasy matchup, we will be pitting the OGs of the Gilas program against the current pool.
Take a look at these hypothetical matchups:
Greg Slaughter versus June Mar Fajardo and Kai Sotto
Now, there's no imagination needed when it comes to the Slaughter-Fajardo matchup. Fans have seen Gregzilla and The Kraken battling it out since college. Fajardo might have the edge over Slaughter, but they would have essentially cancelled each other out.
Sotto, on the other hand, would be an interesting matchup since he brings a very different game. The 7-foot-3 center, who is chasing his NBA dreams in Las Vegas, would be a shooting threat that would pose a problem against the original Gilas center, who mainly operates inside.
Japeth Aguilar versus Japeth Aguilar
No, there's no typo here. This is really an Aguilar-Aguilar matchup. The amount of time the 6-foot-9 big man has dedicated to the Gilas program is nothing short of amazing. Aguilar has seen all the iterations of Gilas and has been part of most of it. The Barangay Ginebra San Miguel center literally grew old with the program. And yes, he's donned a lot of hairstyles there, too.
But who wins between the younger and older version? While the current Aguilar is less athletic, he is also a lot wiser now and has probably seen it all as well. That makes us believe that this version of Aguilar will be able to neutralize his younger, more athletic self.
Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz versus Jamie Malonzo and Thirdy Ravena
That's shooting versus athleticism. In today's game, the outside sniping of Lassiter and Lutz would be lethal. And while Malonzo and Ravena can electrify the squad and the fans with their dunks and defensive intensity, the lights-out shooting of Lassiter and Lutz would sway any game when they are on target. Oh, and it's not as if the OG guards of Gilas can't defend. They're pretty good on that end, too.
Chris Tiu, Mark Barroca, and JVee Casio versus Kiefer Ravena, Chris Newsome, and Scottie Thompson
It looks like the current squad will have the upper hand at first glance. After all, they have the PBA MVP with them.
But remember, Casio was the top point guard of that batch, so it won't be wise to count out the Gilas 1.0 playmakers. Tiu was pretty good, too, while Barroca was at his peskiest best at that time.
Ravena and Newsome, though, won't be that forgiving and will want to prove something against their seniors.
Marcus Douthit versus Jordan Clarkson, Ange Kouame, and Justin Brownlee
One versus three in the naturalized spot department? Now this is just unfair, right?
Hands down, Clarkson would just kill it out there for Gilas Pilipinas. He's a plug-and-play kind of player. Need someone to score at will? There goes JC.
Brownlee is arguably the greatest import the PBA has ever seen. And Kouame is a reliable big man on defense.
But lest you forget, Douthit was a force to be reckoned with in his heyday with Gilas. He was the anchor that stabilized the national team, averaging double-double numbers in points and rebounds. And he has played more games wearing the Philippine colors than Clarkson, Kouame, and Brownlee combined.
The verdict: The more cohesive Gilas 1.0 leads early against the current pool behind their fine-tuned play built on years of playing together. But the current Gilas pool will catch up by halftime behind the heroics of Thompson, Clarkson, and Brownlee. Douthit would eventually finish the game with 28 points and 20 rebounds. But the current pool will pull away with the win as Clarkson explodes for 42 points.
Hey, this is just fantasy. Nobody really knows who will win. There will be a lot of factors at play and these raging debates will continue in inuman sessions forever.
What everybody could agree on, though, is that the Gilas Pilipinas program should go back to its roots and have a designated national team—this time with more talent and size available.
(MDB)