June 4, 2016
Countdown to Manila OQT: 31 days
With just over a month before the beginning of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila, the intensity level of Gilas Pilipinas practices continues to rise.
But it does not mean the Philippine national basketball team is disallowed from having fun. After all, there should be proper balance between working extremely hard to accomplish a goal and having the right amount of fun while doing it.
Head coach Tab Baldwin believes being part of the national team should give players a sense of encouragement; players should feel that the extra two to three months of training is an opportunity to be grateful for, and not an additional burden to carry — especially in a country where hoops for professional athletes is almost non-stop.
“I don’t think we can overemphasize this point. This is a call of duty for players to come to the national team. As I’ve seen in my short time here, they don’t always have to come. I think that it should never be a burden to come and play for your national team,” Baldwin said.
And Gilas has been doing a great job making sure that there are moments of lightness in between moments of seriousness and urgency during the team’s practice sessions.
Such balance creates a better atmosphere, and it also helps the members of the squad — old and new — to develop even more chemistry on and off the court.
“Di mo maaalis yan,” Marc Pingris said of Gilas’ light moments. “Minsan, sinisita na kami ni coach eh. Gusto pag nasa court daw kami, kailangan focused daw.”
“Pero alam mo naman tayo, hindi naman natin maalis yun. Sa totoo lang, yung mga import, gustong-gusto tayo hindi naman dahil sa kalokohan pero dahil sa tawanan,” Pingris furthered.
The 34-year-old Gilas veteran himself is best known for his many DOTA duels with fellow Gilas member June Mar Fajardo during the team’s 2014 FIBA World Cup grind. Having had countless team building moments, Pingris said such intactness is beneficial for the team.
“Mahalaga yun kasi makikilala mo ang isa’t isa doon kung malilalabas din nila yung pagkatao nila,” Pingris said.
“I really enjoy these guys. I enjoy them as friends, as players, and I think the environment that we create should reflect that just as it should reflect the moments of intensity and toughness,” Baldwin added.
Such balance also helps Gilas throughout the process. Although the task at hand is tedious, and practices are grueling, enjoyment is still more evident among players than exhaustion.
“Yun nga ang sinasabi ni coach Tab, given na sobrang tough na (ng practices) at gusto niya intense and yung energy nandoon, pero nireremind niya kami na i-enjoy yung practice, kasi the more na na-pepressure kami, nawawala kami,” Jayson Castro said.
“Kapag loose kami, lahat ng (pinapagawa) nakukuha namin. Yung competitiveness, dapat andoon rin.”
“I think if we come in and it feels like this is too much work everyday, after what these guys go through in the PBA, I think there is a disincentive to come to the environment and I don’t want that,” Baldwin said.
“I want them to have a great incentive to enjoy the environment and they understand they get a wonderful opportunity to represent the country.”
And this what Gilas’ campaign is all about. The entire group isn’t only seeking to end a 44-year Olympic drought; they are having fun trying to do it.
