Completing the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the SEABA Championships 2017 last May, as revealed by head coach Chot Reyes, was a tough decision to make after he’d seen the hard work put in by the members of the cadets program.
The regional tourney only permits 12 players per squad. Gilas was able to complete the lineup, but had the rules allowed 15 men, the 53-year-old coach would have added cadets Carl Cruz, Mike Tolomia, and Kevin Ferrer.
“If I had to choose fifteen, Kevin Ferrer, Carl Bryan Cruz, and Mike Tolomia would definitely be there,” said Reyes last April 28, after the team announcement.
“So that should give you an idea how hard it was for us to make a decision.
The young guns may have missed the biennial SEABA cagefest, but after over a month, the trio will finally have the chance to don the country’s colors once more overseas, a chance that they have been raring to take.
The former UAAP stars will play together for Gilas in two different tournaments — the 35th William Jones Cup in Taiwan this July, and the 2017 Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia slated in August.
And for them, they are deeply honored for this opportunity.
“It means a lot,” said Cruz after Gilas’ practice Tuesday night at the Meralco Gym. “Malaking break para sa’kin ‘to. After all ng hard work, nakapasok na ‘ko sa roster. Bibigay ko pa rin yung best ko para matulungan yung team.”
“It’s an honor talaga na mapasama sa team na ‘to and to represent our country. Promise namin na bibigay namin best namin kung saan kami maglalaro,” added Ferrer, who is gunning for his third SEA Games gold medal.
For Tolomia, who was a member of the Nokia-RP Youth team way back in 2010 and a gold medalist in the 2016 SEABA Stankovic Cup, his inclusion to the team will be the best time for him to prove that he belongs.
“Sa’kin it’s time naman para i-prove na karapat-dapat ako sa lineup na yon,” said the Rain or Shine Elasto Painter rookie. “Excited [din] ako makapaglaro sa SEA Games.”
Looking at the Jones Cup and SEA Games contingents, it is safe to say that the team is very young. The cagers know that youth can be a double-edged sword, but they are looking at all the positives they have and can gain.
“Mahihirapan kami kasi nakita niyo yung lineup puro bata,” admitted Ferrer, regarding their upcoming Jones Cup stint. “Pero take advantage natin yung leagues na yun, kunin natin yung mga lessons [na makukuha natin].
“Yung sa SEA Games, halos lahat sa’min nakapaglaro na and nakapag-gold, so experience namin yung advantage namin,” added the former King Tiger.
“Magdadala sa’min yung sistema namin,” shared the Alaska Aces’ Cruz, who has been familiar with the dribble-drive offense for years being a product of the Far Eastern University program. “It doesn’t matter kung gaano sila kalalaki, or kung undersized kami.
“Magdadala sa amin sistema namin, kung paano kami maglalaro,” the 25-year-old added.
“Magiging tough competition yun kasi yung ibang teams ipapadala nila yung mga best players nila. So sa tingin ko marami kaming matututunan sa kanila. Bibigay lang namin yung best namin,” Tolomia, who was born in Zamboanga City, chimed in.
Daunting challenges will be ahead not only of the three, but of the whole Gilas team, and tough battles are on the horizon. But rest assured that the young stalwarts will not back down, and Cruz said it best.
“Basta ako bibigay ko best ko. Gagawin ko lang role ko. Makikipagpatayan talaga ako, makikipagpalitan ako ng mukha para ipaglaban ‘tong bansa natin,” Cruz declared.
