Is there really hope for the RP Men's basketball team?
If last night's game is any indication of the team's capabilities, then we may have made a mistake in sending the Powerade Team Pilipinas to the FIBA-Asia Qualifiers.
The all-amateur Smart-Gilas team routed the all-pro Powerade team 98-69. In fact, by the second quarter, the game was over, with just the final score in doubt.
Lakers big man CJ Miles was a big part of the rout, scoring 22 points, grabbing 16 rebounds and blocking 5 shots but the real revelation was the revitalized Japeth Aguilar, who terrorized his FIBA-Asia teammates with 24 points.
UAAP stars and rivals Chris Tiu and JV Casio also shone even as Dylan Ababou and Jason Ballesteros stood toe-to-toe to the more heralded PBA counterparts.
What's next for the PBA all-stars? Local fame, I guess.
What's next for the Smart-Gilas team? A chance to become national heroes.
(Oh yeah, and Rajko Toroman is a hell of a coach. For every other Filipino coach who dares complain, I say, prove you can do what he just did, then you can complain.)
