BANGKOK - The new president of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has ordered a full rejig of the country's 3x3 basketball program in the wake of the medal-less campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
“We need to reset,” said Ricky Vargas, making no effort to hide his frustration over the ill-fated 3x3 campaign. “Sana matuto tayo, every game is a lesson. I hope we learned. And this time, I think we have to be very dedicated about this (sport).”
READ Gilas 3x3 finishes out of SEAG podium after shock losses
On top of Vargas' plans is an eight-man Gilas pool decided solely for 3x3 basketball and totally separate from the five-a-side program of the SBP currently being overseen by national coach Tim Cone.
“We’re still thinking of what’s the best way forward,” added the concurrent PBA chairman and TNT team governor, adding they are also mulling the option of reviving the PBA's separate 3x3 league.
But regardless which direction the SBP takes, the 73-year old corporate bigwig is firm in his belief that 3x3 basketball has Olympic medal potential written all over it - and determined to take the sport to a whole new level.
Days after a hastily assembled team led by naturalized player Ange Kouame failed to medal in a competition topped by host Thailand, Vargas arrived in Bangkok juggling ideas for the 3x3 national program in his head.
“Dalawa ang solution na nakikita ko. One, maybe we should revive the 3x3 of the PBA or create a team of eight people, 3x3 [lang], and let them compete all over the world, so they can be rated,” Vargas told SPIN.ph at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.
But between the two, Vargas said it's the dedicated 3x3 pool option that he looks forward to implementing at the soonest possible time.
“Talagang dedicated 3-on-3 players na lang yung team na bubuuin natin. Hindi na sila lalaro ng 5x5 para hindi nalilito. Iba ang 5-on-5 kahit anong eksplinasyon gawin mo,” he said.
“Kung makakapili tayo ng 3-on-3, hindi na sila lalaro ng 5-on-5. Eh, yung mga 3x3 ng Southeast Asian Games, yung Singapore, ang lakas hindi ba, tinalo tayo,” he said. “But they cannot do that to us on five-on-five.”
“Talagang dedicated lang kasi sila sa 3x3.”
Vargas revealed that in the next few months, the SBP will conduct a selection process for players who will comprise the men’s and women’s 3x3 teams from leagues like the PBA, MPBL, UAAP and the NCAA.
Gilas 3x3 selection process
“We need to select these players. We must do it now,” he said.
Asked if the chosen 3x3 pool members will be given lucrative salaries, Vargas said: “If there are players who we think fits the team we are forming, kahit nasa PBA sila, at willing sila to change careers, then we can always talk about it."
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