SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) program director Tab Baldwin explained that all players invited to the Gilas Pilipinas bubble training at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba met a certain criteria before being called up.
"There's a certain criteria that we look at for international players and I think that a lot of people will say just get the best players, and certainly, the elite players at whatever age we're talking about, we do want them," he told The Game.
But Baldwin emphasized the need to have players with "advanced skill and advanced IQ," especially with the young group of players he has at his disposal.
"Beyond that, we're looking for intangibles, an advanced understanding of the game," he pointed out.
Baldwin cited guards RJ Abarrientos and SJ Belangel as examples.
"These two guys are not the physical prototype that we're looking for, but they're sort of around the Kiefer Ravena-model who's a very clever basketball player who reads the game extremely well, and SJ and RJ are sort of cut from the same mold," he said of the newcomers.
"What they might lack in elite talent, they make up for basketball IQ that is very advanced."
Baldwin said the likes of Abarrientos and Belangel may not be the first players some coaches may pick from the bunch, but their advanced understanding of the game has really boosted their stock, not only for Gilas' present but also its future.
"In the international game, because it's not an overly athletic game, it's a very intellectual game, a player like that can fit in even though physically, they're a little bit inferior," he said.
Still, Baldwin couldn't leave out the players who provide length, which explains the callups for the likes of Lebron Lopez, Josh Lazaro, Geo Chiu, and Troy Mallillin, just to name a few.
"We're looking for elite talent, we're looking for length, and the guys that have that IQ where the game comes easy to them in spite of their physical assets or deficiencies."
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