ALLAN THE MAN

Gilas Pilipinas did the hard work and brought a measure of redemption to the Philippines’ once-revered status in Asian basketball. That frees us up to goof around and imagine what would happen if the country sent some of the PBA’s most colorful characters and unique talents to compete in FIBA Asia events. Let’s do this.

PART 3: IT'S MORE FUN TEAM PHILIPPINES

These are just the guys I always love to watch. Basketball looks “more fun” when they’re playing the game, so it only makes sense that the Department of Tourism would step in to sponsor the team. We’re going with a super small, three-guard lineup.

G — Willie Miller, Globalport: You thought I wasn’t going to work my hoops man-crush into this article? The free-spirit who breathed so much life and joy into the 2007 Alaska Fiesta Conference I chronicled in Pacific Rims? As long as the Thriller laces up Nikes, he’ll be a starter on my squad. Miller has transformed his game in recent years — he can’t get to the rim quite like he used to and scores more often from the perimeter — and what’s remarkable is that he has remained one of the most entertaining and aesthetically pleasing players in the PBA. His scoring streaks of one-footed, high-arching jumpers are borderline miraculous, and even if it only happened once in eight FIBA games, for me it’d be worthwhile just to see Willie Boy go off.

G — Alex Cabagnot, Petron: Kaliwetes of the world unite! I have a soft spot for players whose talent seems to always be a step or two ahead of their production, because I like seeing them grow and improve and try to put the pieces all together, even when they don’t quite make it. (Seriously, Marcus Banks was my favorite player in the 2003 NBA Draft, which, yes, includes LeBron, Carmelo, Bosh and Wade.) Cabagnot has been excellent at times in his career — and he’s a killer in the clutch — but it’s hard to shake the feeling that with his size and skill and quickness, he has never quite reached his competitive apex. But even if he’s not perfect, he can be tantalizing to watch.

G — Cyrus Baguio, Alaska: The surprise top performer for Powerade Team Pilipinas in 2009, Baguio showed that he brings an element of open-court creativity and finishing flair that guards couldn’t match and probably had never seen before. It’s something I’d like to see again.

PF — Cliff Hodge, Meralco: A lot of bounce, a lot of hustle. We all know that stuff is contagious. We all like it.

C — Danny Ildefonso, Petron: Why the hell not? Aside from Belga and the big men currently playing for Gilas, there aren’t too many “fun” big men in the PBA. Why not give Danny I one big victory lap on the world stage, and hope we get to see him raise the roof as if it were still 1998.

Sixth Man (in 3 Words): Emman Monfort, Barako: Adorbs but deadly.

Naturalized Player (in 3 Words): Gabe Freeman: Swiss Army Knife

That’s it! Feel free to pick apart these lineups, substitute your own angas or inis guys, or come up with different themed teams of your own. Gwaping Pilipinas? I hear John Ferriols is making a comeback. Benta Pilipinas? I’m not touching that with a two-meter walis, but go for it if you dare. Most importantly, thanks to the real Philippine team, Gilas, for making the country so proud and for giving me an excuse and an opportunity to think silly thoughts about the sport we all love.

Rafe Bartholomew is the author of Pacific Rims: Beermen Ballin’ in Flip-Flops and the Philippines’ Unlikely Love Affair with Basketball and an editor at Grantland.

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