Alcoseba defends Gilas coach; benching Fajardo puzzles ‘El Presidente’

Fernandez

With a basketball fan base as passionate and rabid as the Philippines, the criticism over the Gilas Pilipinas’ four close losses and the clamor for that very first win in the Fiba Basketball World Cup slowly goes hand in hand.

And if ever there was a person from this side of the country who had the authority to critique the play of the Philippine national men’s basketball squad, it would have to be Cebu’s most successful head coach, Raul “Yayoy” Alcoseba, the current head coach of the Southwestern University Cobras and the author of the winningest commercial basketball team in the country, the now-disbanded M. Lhuillier Kwarta Padala-Cebu Ninos.

But rather than criticize, Alcoseba took the high road and chose to celebrate the Gilas’ accomplishments so far in the prestigious tournament and defend the national team’s head coach, Chot Reyes, who has come under fire of late for his short rotation resulting in limited minutes for Cebuano big man and PBA MVP, June Mar Fajardo.

“Everybody is entitled to their own opinions. From the outside looking in, they can say whatever they want. But the Gilas had their own game plan and they executed it, and unfortunately they fell short. But make no mistake, they gave it their best shot,” said Alcoseba in an interview yesterday.

As for the benching of Fajardo, a proud product of the University of Cebu Webmasters who he led to two titles including one in 2011 over Alcoseba’s own Cobras, the Cebu Provincial Board Member had this to say: “(June Mar) Fajardo’s role on that team is to relieve (Andray) Blatche. That’s it. If Blatche somehow gets into foul trouble or is injured, then Fajardo will get more minutes. But against Puerto Rico, the Gilas couldn’t afford not to have Blatche out on the floor.”

Another basketball personality who offered his two cents worth on the Gilas was Congressman Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, the team manager of the reigning Cesafi champions, University of the Visayas Green Lancers.

“Heartbroken but proud. As a basketball fanatic nation, with one win or no wins after this World Cup championship, we should welcome our national team like heroes and with open arms. They made our country proud. I read on the Internet once, it is hard to get wins but definitely harder to gain the respect of the world. That’s what the Gilas has already done,” said the affable sportsman and politician.
But PBA legend Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez, a man who helped Fajardo raise his game during the early stages of his collegiate career, remained puzzled at the big man’s benching but nevertheless hoped for the best for the Gilas squad especially with the Asian Games looming later this month.

“I can only speculate. The reason I presume that we naturalized players is to raise our ceiling, so why doesn’t he (Chot Reyes) field June Mar (Fajardo) and Andray (Blatche) especially in the fourth quarter? Sayang ang showing ni June Mar. Getting to Fiba Worlds is good enough, but we should consider this as training for the Asiad. That’s where we can set our sights,” said the Cebu-based player turned businessman.