My Philippines 3x3 Dream Team
MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on my Mind) - The FIBA 3x3 World Cup is fast approaching, and that got me thinking about what a Philippine 3x3 Dream Team would look like.
MANILA (Enzo Flojo's Asia on my Mind) - The FIBA 3x3 World Cup is fast approaching, and that got me thinking about what a Philippine 3x3 Dream Team would look like.
The last time the FIBA 3x3 World Cup took place was last year in Guangzhou, China. The Philippines sent a pretty good team then composed of Mac Belo, Karl Dehesa, Russel Escoto and Glenn Khobuntin, and they finished a respectable 9th place overall. They beat Romania and Poland but lost to Hungary and Spain in their group.
The next World Cup will be held in Nantes, France this year from 17-21 June, and it will be very exciting to see another Philippines squad vie for the 3x3 crown. I'm here to offer some suggestions about who could make up maybe the best possible Philippines 3x3 team that can more significantly contend for a podium finish and send even more ripples in the international 3x3 basketball scene.
Remember that the pace and style of play in 3x3 is quite different compared to regular 5x5 full-court basketball. The game flows more fluidly, and there is greater emphasis on quickness, athleticism and individual talent. Having said that, here are my picks for a possible Philippines 3x3 Dream Team!
Every team needs a star, someone who will be the face of the team and who will connect with the fans. That's Terrence Romeo, but, oh, he does so so much more. Anyone who has seen Romeo play knows he is absolutely perfect for 3x3. His style of play is textbook streetball, and that's the kind that will really provide high octane action and be a great fit for the pace of 3x3 hoops. Romeo has maybe the best handles in all of Asia, and his stroke is pure. I mean, he hits around 4 three-pointers per game in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA). Romeo was born to play ball, and it seems he was built specifically with 3x3 in mind. Remember how he was voted Most Spectacular Player (MSP) in the FIBA 3x3 season in 2015?
Even in the 3x3 setting, success is hinged on boundless energy and hustle, and that's exactly what Abueva brings to the table. He may be undersized compared to most international wingmen, and his outside shooting is nowhere near as dangerous as Romeo's, but he more than makes up for those deficiencies with his seemingly endless motor, unbridled swagger and uncanny ability to confound his opponents. The 1.90m swingman is known as "The Beast" in the Philippines, and that's for good reason. With his high basketball IQ, his unmatched intensity and nose for the ball, Abueva is the do-it-all, scrappy player who will serve as a perfect complement to the athletes and scorers of this squad. Oh, and don't forget that he,too, was named MSP at one time — back in the 3x3 World Tour Final 2015 in Abu Dhabi.
I love Rosario's combination of size, shooting and versatility. He is big enough to be a solid frontliner in the 3x3 circuit while also possessing the perimeter accuracy to stretch opposing defenses. He is versatile enough to play alongside another big guy, but he can also man the middle if the Filipinos choose to go small ball. His athleticism and physicality are also a bit underrated. I mean, he can rebound with the best of 'em and attack the rim with ferocity in addition to his sweet stroke from mid to long range. No wonder he was ranked number one 3x3 player in the Philippines in 2016, right?
Japeth has never experienced playing FIBA 3x3 ball, but, man, he's perfect for it. His size, length and athleticism make him a potentially amazing 3x3 player, and adding him to this dream team increases their ceiling quite significantly. Japeth is known mainly for two things in his years in the PBA and Gilas Pilipinas — his high-flying dunks and emphatic shot-blocking. He also isn't the lumbering type of big man as he can hop, skip and jump like an agile guard. Imagining him with Romeo and Abueva on the 3x3 floor is already making me salivate! And, well, I am willing to wager he'd go pretty far and dazzle a lot of fans in the traditional FIBA 3x3 Dunk Contest!
Enzo Flojo
FIBA
FIBA's columnists write on a wide range of topics relating to basketball that are of interest to them. The opinions they express are their own and in no way reflect those of FIBA.
FIBA takes no responsibility and gives no guarantees, warranties or representations, implied or otherwise, for the content or accuracy of the content and opinion expressed in the above article.