Smart Gilas Bring Home Jones Cup 2012 Gold Medal

LA Tenorio was the smallest man on court when Philippines’ Smart Gilas battled the US team during the final day of Jones Cup 2012 competition. And it was the most important game for Smart Gilas on the tournament yet, with a 6-1 record, wherein they are hoping to secure the gold medal by upsetting the Americans to avoid a tie three-way tie at 6-2. And yet, the smallest man made the biggest shots when they mattered most.

LA Tenorio helped Smart Gilas to crawl their way back into the game after being behind for most part of the game. At one point, the lead was as high as 15 points. However, the Philippine Smart Gilas team kept banging on every opportunity to get back.

It wasn’t easy though since James Justice’s hot hand kept pouring in the shots from outside the arc to fend off any comeback attempt late in the third quarter and early in the fourth. After LA Tenorio scored five to kick off the fourth quarter, then followed by Gabe Norwood’s own, the Philippine team’s goal to tie or even lead the Americans was now within reach.

A few heroic shots after (mostly from Tenorio), thanks to the high pick set by center Marcus Douthit, Smart Gilas finally snagged the lead. The lead was short-lived, though, as the Americans were quick to follow it up with a shot of their own, thanks to James Justice again.

Crucial defensive plays came at the dying seconds of the final two minutes and at the opposing offensive thrust, Jeff Chan was fouled and forced to go to the free throw line. At this point, the Smart Gilas Philippine team was up by just one. Chan had to convert two of the most important free throws of the game yet. When he missed the first, Coach Chot Reyes instructed him to miss the second shot with only a few seconds left in the game. Filipino fans at the stadium had to hold their breath as the US team attempt to take a game-winning shot with roughly 2 seconds left in the game following the sideline inbound. When the ball hit the rim but failed to go in, the members of the Smart Gilas team jumped at the center of the court as fans also jumped in jubilation from the stands.

This was the first time in 14 years that the Philippine team won a gold medal in the William Jones Cup tournament. And the fans, as well as the team, couldn’t have been more proud of this one as no one expected them to win it all (not especially against a US team)!

 You can watch the final 3 minutes of the game here: 

Congrats Smart Gilas Team 2012! Thank you for making the Filipinos proud!

Breakin down Jimmer Fredette's weapon to avoid being BUST!

Jimmer can still work out his game to become at least a decent rotation player or even better. One year of adjustment will be enough, a little tweak on his game could be the key to finding success in the NBA. If you take a look at some good players, some of them struggled in their first season but used it to improve their game. Let's take a look at how can Jimmer Fredette can improve his game.

He's good in creating contact.

If you watched the summer league, Jimmer Fredette didn't impress us much in efficient field goal percentage but he still manage to fill up the points. He surely make up in free throws. He's a good free throw shooter shooting around 85-90%. He has upper body strength, which he can used in driving and creating contact. We saw him struggle in making lay ups since he is always blocked. Then this could be a key for him to be effective in the hardcourt. 

Once he get hot, he pours it!

Even though he struggles in his rookie season, in some of the games, we still able to watch how a great shooter he can be. He surely can shoot the ball everywhere in the court and all he need to do is to get hot. In some reasons, he just can't be consistent on it. Once he find a way to be consistent, he can be dangerous, so don't count him out.

Improve his floater or close range shots.

Since he can't drive past the defender and have a lay up, then a floater or close range shot can be the best option for him. This is a high percentage way of scoring for him to improve efficiency. He fires too many long range shots which result to 38% field goal rookie season.
 

He can pass the ball.

Since he was drafted by the Kings, I knew he'll struggle since the Sacramento Kings are already filled with guards. They got Thorton, Evans, Salmons, Garcia, Thomas. If you watch their games, Tyreke and Thorton carry the ball most of the time and they are the one who create offense. This means a lower assist for Jimmer on the stats. If you gave him significant role on a team wherein he'll have more time on the court and have the ball in his hand, he could have played his game. He's the kind of player that needs more touch in order to be effective.
 

He must have confidence.

The main reason for his struggles in his rookie season could be his lack of confidence. As a rookie, from college where in he is the go-to-guy on a winning team to NBA a bench player on a losing team. (but Kings have a bright future.) These factor could affect his game on every area. The best chance for Fredette is to start over new with much significant role somewhere else. No one could tell, he just might be the next big story of this upcoming season.

If you have any thoughts or would like to comment on this post, we'd love to hear them on the comments section below. 

Written by Fritz Castro

US Wins Olympic Gold Over Spain In Men's Hoops

LONDON (AP) - The Dream Team 2012 won the gold against a familiar opponent. Again.

image courtesy of NBA Philippines

The '92 Dream Team made basketball more relevant internationally. This year’s Team USA didn’t just prove that, they also show us how far they are from the pack.

The world number 1 Team USA fought off another big challenge from the world number 2 Spain, pulling away in the final minutes for a 107-100 win to bag their second straight Olympic gold last Sunday. And much like in 2008 Beijing Olympics, the American had to earn it.

Spain lost twice in the preliminary round and an 11-point halftime deficit against Russia in the semis’ halftime after scoring just 20 points, which is just on average, seven minutes worth of work for the USA. But Spain rallied with its twin towers of Gasol brothers and sweet shooting of Navarro for a 67-59 victory.

USA on the other hand, had a different kind of story heading to the semis. They get through opponents with large margins (with the exception of Lithuania) by pulling away late in the third or middle of the fourth.

But last Sunday’s Olympic gold match is off to the history books, as the scrappy Spaniards come with a fight.

USA lead Spain for only 1 point after 3 Quarters, it was a back-and-forth, physical, and impossible to dismiss finals and fans inside the North Greenwich Arena certainly got their money’s worth.

Juan Carlos Navarro was brilliant in the first half, especially in the first quarter where he scored 13 of his team’s 20 from three straight 3s. But the American’s perimeter defense picked off, and he wasn’t as effective in the second half as he was in the first half. He scored a total of 21.

Pau Gasol wasn’t a major factor for Spain in the first half, but his 13 points in the third were huge to keep his team close.

Kevin Love, on the other hand, may not jump off the stat sheets, but he kept on sending Marc Gasol to the bench because of foul-trouble with brilliant box-out and positioning.

Spain gave the US all they could handle, and the American just got enough breathing room late in the Fourth Quarter. Kevin Durant scored 30 points and 9 rebounds to lead the victory. Pau Gasol, on the other hand, gained the respect of the opposing team again with 24 points and 8 rebounds to keep Spain close to route.

Both teams got frustrated with the officiating, and it was a physical game as expected. Marc Gasol for example, was called for his fourth foul in the middle of the second quarter.

Both teams kept their poise heading to the fourth Q, but team USA spread their lead with under a minute to go, which all started from Lebron James’ monstrous get-away dunk and a dagger clutch 3.

Paul’s zig-zag drive to the basket in 50-second mark gives them an 11 point gap, and coach Mike Kryzewski of the United States responded with massive substitutions, sending James Harden and the current number 1 draft Anthony Davis to the court, as Bryant and James started their celebrations on the bench.

Earlier on that day, Russia also bagged the bronze with an 81-77 win against the 2004 Olympics champions, Argentina.