BIG MEN, SHOOTERS KEY FOR PHL’S RISE IN WORLD RANKINGS
PBA commissioner Chito Salud is batting for the development of more big players and the improvement of the skills of our shooters so the country can sustain its rise in the FIBA world rankings.
Basketball leaders hailed the country’s continued surge in the world basketball ladder as the Philippines jumped three rungs up to 31st following Gilas Pilipinas’ finish of 21st in the recent FIBA World Cup.
“The Philippines’ improvement in the world and regional rankings calls for a careful assessment of how best we can build on this gain,” said Salud.
“We can ask the question what and how can we do better. While there’s a lot that can still be fine-tuned, what I do know is that when we open our hearts and minds to pursuing and achieving a worthy goal, creative and effective approaches emerge,” Salud added.
His specific suggestion is to look at the Filipino big men and the shooters.
“June Mar Fajardo’s performance (in the World Cup) has given us food for thought,” Salud said.
“Our local big men will be the key in the future so that we do not need to overuse or over rely on our reinforcement. He will inevitably be either fatigued, injured or double-teamed,” Salud pointed out.
“Once we get this part right, including improved and more consistent outside shooting, we will be even more competitive,” he added.
PBA Board chairman Patrick Gregorio is as happy with the development.
“It’s an exciting time for Philippine basketball. From 34th to 31st is a big jump. Let’s aim for the Top 20 then Top 10,” said Gregorio.
“The surge in world ranking means we can also expect a surge in the popularity of basketball in our country and of course our PBA league,” Gregorio also said. “(It’s) a great way to start the 40th season of the PBA. Rest assured, we will continue to support our Gilas Pilipinas.”
In the Asian ladder, the Philippines, the regional kingpin from the 50s to the early 70s, jumped past Lebanon to be at fifth, behind only China, Iran, Korea and Jordan.
The United States, Spain, Argentina and Lithuania kept their one-two-three-four position while France improved to fifth from eighth following its strong third-place finish in the Spanish joust.
Russia stayed at sixth place before Serbia, runner-up to Team USA in the 2014 worlds. Turkey, Brazil and Greece, all easily making the knockout round of the last world meet, round up the Magic 10.
China moved two rungs down to 14th in the world ladder, its position as the top Asian team now under threat from Iran, now at No. 17 following a No. 20 finish in the World Cup.
Korea had its gains from its WC stint, moving past Jordan to be at No. 3 in the Asian ranking. The Koreans improved to 27th in the world leader board, a notch ahead of the Jordanians. (SB)
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