The Castro Replacements

One of the more distressing pieces of news to hit Philippine basketball lately is the decision by legendary point guard Jayson Castro to skip this years FIBA World Cup in China.

Castro has been instrumental to the rise of Gilas in international basketball and has twice been hailed as the best point guard in Asia.

Now, this question begs to be asked: who should be included in the Gilas pool as possible replacements for Castro?

Here are five options:

Mark Barroca. Barroca has proven himself as probably the best two-way point guard we have, not just in the All-Filipino Cup but even during his most recent Gilas stint. While his outside shooting is still not as good as you would expect from an elite guard, it's good enough for him to be dangerous. His defense though, puts him in an entirely different category, with only his Purefoods backup, Jio Jalalon, and Ginebra spitfire, Scottie Thompson, coming close.



Scottie Thompson. Thompson has cemented his reputation as a hardnosed, tough-as-nails, predatory defender who rebounds well beyond his height. He can also provide instant offense but much like Barroca, his outside shooting is suspect. His familiarity with Coach Yeng Guiao's system is his greatest advantage over other point guard options.

Kiefer Ravena. The Phenom should have been one of those shoo-ins. But after his forced hiatus from basketball for a year and a half, it remains to be seen whether he's in any kind of basketball shape. I'm sure Ravena is in shape but game shape is something else altogether. Ravena is athletic, has a high basketball IQ, and is extremely motivated to play so I'm guessing he's going to come to Gilas practices guns ablazing.

Alex Cabagnot. This multi-titled and supremely savvy point guard has several things going in his favor: experience, proven grace under pressure, and most importantly, is the best perimeter shooter from the five on this list. Cabagnot is as complete an offensive player as point guards go, being able to score on the drive, from the perimeter and creates scoring chances for his teammates. His defense is very spotty though, and he has a tendency to give up on defense too easily.

Robert Bolick. This wunderkind is having a great season. In fact, this seasons may feature the tightest race for Rookie of the Year, as CJ Perez, Bolick, and Ray Ray Parks are all in the midst of epic rookie seasons. Bolick is a fearless scorer and has tons of collegiate championship experience but has shown a tendency to force things and get flustered when he is covered properly on offense. My guess is he needs to experience tougher competition so he can develop more but not sure he should try to get that experience at the World Cup.

My guess: Barroca is a lock to make the team. Things get muddled after that. My guess is Barroca, Thompson, and Ravena make it. If Ravena's fitness is an issue, Bolick might actually have a better chance of making the team than Cabagnot has.