Filipino Ballers in the US...News and Updates

[jsmith124]

what is the difference between smart gilas and the powerade team?

[TrueBluePinoy]

what is the difference between smart gilas and the powerade team?

Smart Gilas is a developmental Philippine national basketball team sponsored by Smart Communications and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP). The team is bannered by collegiate and amateur standouts whose ultimate goal is to reach the 2012 London Olympics. The team, formed in early 2009 to instill a long term program for the Philippines men's national basketball team, is coached by former Iran national basketball team coach Rajko Toroman.

Powerade Team Pilipinas was composed of an all-PBA squad but hardly had any preparation leading to the FIBA Asian Championships. The rest well, you know what happened then.

[Alex07]

I hope he dosent play for the Italian national team this would be a huge loss for the Philippines.

thanks for all the info jsmith124 ...hope that we could get Chris to play for Gilas soon

[HoopNightmare]

Hoops, I know it's early but is there any D-1 schools looking at him right now?

You're right its still early. I don't know is colleges are allowed to talk to him yet but there has been some interest. He is going to a big time exposure camp this summer. Still a Sophomore... He's about 6'0 now and still growing.

[ken_bball]

Jason Deutchman?? who is this guy?

[elisher]

New York Knicks guard and two-time NBA slam dunk champion Nate Robinson is part-Filipino. That’s the word from basketball writer Rafe Bartholomew who said Robinson’s mother Renee Busch confirmed the Filipino heritage although the roots are rather scant.

Robinson, 25, is one-eighth Filipino. His maternal great grandfather was pure Filipino, making his grandfather half and his mother a fourth. Whether that portion will qualify Robinson to play for coach Rajko Toroman’s Smart Gilas team is a question mark.

Technically, Robinson could be considered a Fil-Am or more like an Am-Fil. If he is issued a Filipino passport on that basis as a dual citizen, then the 5-9 human dynamo from Seattle qualifies to play for Gilas – not as a naturalized import but as a Filipino like Fil-Ams Marcio Lassiter and Chris Lutz.

Of course, Robinson has to agree to apply for a Filipino passport and play for Gilas.

Bartholomew, whose story on the Ateneo-La Salle basketball rivalry made it to the pages of the New York Times, said he recently wrote a profile on Robinson. He interviewed Robinson’s mother for his piece. “Pinoy daw ang lolo niya,” texted Bartholomew, an American, in Filipino from his US cellphone.

Robinson made the sports headlines last New Year’s Day for scoring 41 points to lead the Knicks to a 112-108 overtime win over Atlanta on the road. He shot 3-of-5 triples, grabbed six rebounds and dished off eight assists in 38 minutes off the bench.

What made the feat more remarkable was it was Robinson’s first game since sitting out 14 straight assignments in coach Mike D’Antoni’s doghouse. Robinson’s previous outing was on Dec. 1 when he went scoreless in 11 minutes against Phoenix. Before that forgettable contest, Robinson torched Orlando for 24 points last Nov. 29.

Two days after Robinson’s explosion at Atlanta, he collected six points, six rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes as New York downed Indiana, 132-89.

* * * *

So far this season, Robinson is averaging 12.7 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 23.2 minutes in 14 games without a single start. He has sat out 20 games, mainly because of disagreements with D’Antoni.

It’s not the first time that Robinson has been at odds with his coach. As a rookie in 2005-06, he clashed with former New York coach Larry Brown who seriously considered demoting him to the D-League before deciding instead to deactivate him for 10 games. Robinson was also involved in fights with teammates Jerome James and Malik Rose, a report claimed. James, by the way, is a 7-1 center and Rose, who once visited Manila, is a 6-7, 255-pound enforcer. How crazy is it for the 190-pound Robinson to engage James and Rose in what a report said were “physical altercations?”

Robinson’s feisty nature was affirmed when he brawled with Denver’s J. R. Smith in a game during the 2006-07 season. He was suspended 10 games by the NBA for his role in the fisticuffs.

Despite his attitude problems, Robinson is a fan favorite in the Big Apple. That’s because being undersized, he plays a lot taller than he is. Robinson never backs down from any challenge or anyone, for that matter, even if he’s seven-foot tall.

In The Star’s sport section last Jan. 3, there was a picture of Robinson scoring a layup over 6-10 Hawks center Al Horford. In case you missed the point, Horford stands over a foot taller than Robinson. The picture said it all.

Robinson averaged a career-high 17.2 points in 74 games last season, his third with the Knicks since turning pro. Yet, he couldn’t wangle more than a one-year extension from New York, straining relations with D’Antoni and management.

While Robinson was chained in D’Antoni’s doghouse, his agent Aaron Goodwin was quoted in media as saying he would press for a trade. Goodwin said the benching was personal and not basketball-related. Goodwin made his comments last Dec. 19.

The NBA later fined Robinson $25,000 for Goodwin’s statements. “Players are not permitted to make trade requests publicly and are responsible for public statements relating to them made by their representatives,” said NBA spokesman Tim Frank.

* * * *

Knicks president Donnie Walsh said he would likely explore trade options for Robinson. But since his 41-point eruption, Robinson has changed his tune, saying, “I want the world to see I can play the game of basketball – this is where I want to be and I hope that I can stay... it’s a new year, a new start and I’m not looking back.”

Last season, New York ranked 14th of 15 Eastern Conference teams and missed the playoffs with a lowly 32-50 record. At the moment, the Knicks are 10th in the East with a 14-20 mark. The team got off to a horrible 1-9 start this campaign.

The oldest of seven children, Robinson lost a brother Deron Isaiah – a victim of sudden infant death syndrome – in 1997. Deron was born on May 21 so that it was significant, if not providential, that Robinson was the 21st pick in the 2005 NBA draft. He was the first University of Washington player to be chosen in the first round since Germany’s Chris Welp in 1987.

Robinson got his nickname “Krypto-Nate” when he jinxed Dwight Howard, also known as “Superman,” during the NBA Slam Dunk contest last year. The Knicks dynamo wore a green New York jersey, green shorts and green shoes to symbolize green “kryptonite” in dethroning Howard as the dunking champion.

Robinson’s mother operates a beauty salon in Seattle and lives in a three-storey house. His father Jacque played football for the University of Washington. It was his father who convinced him to give up football for basketball in 2002.

Robinson is listed at 5-9 wearing shoes but is actually a shade under 5-8 on his bare feet. He has a vertical leap of 43.5 inches and dunked for the first time, using a volleyball, when he was 13 in the eighth grade.

Robinson has two sons Nahmier, 5, and Ny’ale Camron, 3. In the New York media guidebook, there is no mention of his wife or the mother of his children.

http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx...ubCategoryId=6

[jsmith124]

Where would tryouts be for the national team and would they be open to the public? i would love to watch!

[nardy]

Where would tryouts be for the national team and would they be open to the public? i would love to watch!

as I said .... maybe, nothing formal yet. then Coach T do things differently. If ever new prospects might have to go through what is happening right now .... the on-job tryouts that the Fil-fors Chris Lutz, Sean Anthony, Marcio Lassiter, Seb Salinas and Matt Schmectig had endured. Since the Core group of players had been formed and a system is already being implemented, it is no longer how talented or athletic the player is, it is more of how the player would fit into the SMART GILAS EQUATION and if his addition would more or less give the Solution which Coach Rajko and the SBP is looking for. The said Fil-fors together with the candidates for naturalization (1st it was Chris Taft, then CJ Giles, now Jamal Sampson) joined the workouts, practices, drills and games of the team to see if they would be the right fit and if they could deliver and at the same time make the core players perform much better.

[kangaroo]

Sir Nardy! Is ED Noli Eala and the rest of SBP aware of Nate Robinson having Filipino blood. I wonder what the SBP think of Robinson possibly playing for the Philippine team? Do they have plans of making contact with his mom or Nate himself? This is interesting and exciting at the same time. If my memory serves me right this is somewhat similar to Chris Kaman's situation. Should we establish his Filipino lineage he sure can play for the country. That is if and when Nate accept it should SBP offer him the possibility of helping the NT get to the Olympics.

[Onizuka01]

Sir Nardy! Is ED Noli Eala and the rest of SBP aware of Nate Robinson having Filipino blood. I wonder what the SBP think of Robinson possibly playing for the Philippine team? Do they have plans of making contact with his mom or Nate himself? This is interesting and exciting at the same time. If my memory serves me right this is somewhat similar to Chris Kaman's situation. Should we establish his Filipino lineage he sure can play for the country. That is if and when Nate accept it should SBP offer him the possibility of helping the NT get to the Olympics.

the only way for him to be legible is for him to be naturalized. imo we rather need a center than a guard as our naturalized player, and i dont hink sbp can afford his services.

so i think lets forget the fuzz about nate robinson of donning the rpnt jersey, just keep it a dream.

[kaiziken_pinas]

the only way for him to be legible is for him to be naturalized. imo we rather need a center than a guard as our naturalized player, and i dont hink sbp can afford his services.

so i think lets forget the fuzz about nate robinson of donning the rpnt jersey, just keep it a dream.

quinito said in an aricle that he's eligible

[kangaroo]

I think he is eligible under FIBA rules. Its an internal matter for the Philippines' basketball body. As long as we can establish his Filipino lineage and then he get his Filipino passport, he is good to go. The possession of the Filipino passport is the most important document to be eligible to play for the Philippines.

[Baller Jobe]

I think he is eligible under FIBA rules. Its an internal matter for the Philippines' basketball body. As long as we can establish his Filipino lineage and then he get his Filipino passport, he is good to go. The possession of the Filipino passport is the most important document to be eligible to play for the Philippines.

While Nate is an acknowledged head case in the NBA, still SBP may reconsider considering his awesome talent and almost superstar status. With Nate in the Gilas roster, it will elevate by miles the popularity of the national team not only in the national scene but likewise in the international scene. Sponsors may soon pour in and take advantage of the presence of Krypto-Nate in the team. More sponsors mean more funds for the national team program. Thing is, to begin with, will Nate be interested to join?

[bsgermany]

the only way for him to be legible is for him to be naturalized. imo we rather need a center than a guard as our naturalized player, and i dont hink sbp can afford his services.

so i think lets forget the fuzz about nate robinson of donning the rpnt jersey, just keep it a dream.

Hey, he's 5'9'' - so he could play starting center in the Philippines! (just joking).

A player like that would be fun to watch, and since he's certainly a fiew times better than anything you have at the guard positions, I don't think you couldn't use him.
On the other hand, isn't it that you can only use one naturalized player in international tournaments? That would mean that you couldn't buy a center anymore.

[TrueBluePinoy]

Hey, he's 5'9'' - so he could play starting center in the Philippines! (just joking).

A player like that would be fun to watch, and since he's certainly a fiew times better than anything you have at the guard positions, I don't think you couldn't use him.
On the other hand, isn't it that you can only use one naturalized player in international tournaments? That would mean that you couldn't buy a center anymore.

This is the part I am stressing. Guard position is already overloaded and it would be a waste to use up the only slot for a naturalized player just to accommodate the position even if he's got NBA experience. What we really need is a big man.

[kangaroo]

While Nate is an acknowledged head case in the NBA, still SBP may reconsider considering his awesome talent and almost superstar status. With Nate in the Gilas roster, it will elevate by miles the popularity of the national team not only in the national scene but likewise in the international scene. Sponsors may soon pour in and take advantage of the presence of Krypto-Nate in the team. More sponsors mean more funds for the national team program. Thing is, to begin with, will Nate be interested to join?

I second the motion. I also think that Nate will also gain the Filipino public's support and will in turn become a big star in the country if he eventually play for the country. I think it would be stupid not to entertain the possibility of Robinson playing for flag and country. The kid has an undeniable talent and the most talented in the NT if he does. It will be unfair to be judging Nate's character and we have to give him the benefit of the doubt. First and foremost we don't know Nate personally and so it is unfair to be making such comments. At any rate if it were true that he has Filipino lineage and he wants to play of the country then well and good. I think we have much to gain and nothing to lose on the Nate Robinson situation if he can play for the country.

Nama2ngha who is an SBP insider is asking if some of the forumers can get and find ways how to contact Robinson. I think we have guys in here who are capable of doing such.

[kangaroo]

Hey, he's 5'9'' - so he could play starting center in the Philippines! (just joking).

A player like that would be fun to watch, and since he's certainly a fiew times better than anything you have at the guard positions, I don't think you couldn't use him.
On the other hand, isn't it that you can only use one naturalized player in international tournaments? That would mean that you couldn't buy a center anymore.

We are not trying to get him as a Naturalized player. Instead we are trying to get him to play as someone with Filipino lineage since his mother said that her grandfather was a pure blooded Filipino. And the next step to do is to try and ascertain the factuality of it. If true and going by FIBA rules he will not be qualified as a naturalized player. It somewhat similar to your Chris Kaman situation.

[elisher]

der someone in teampilinas said that demarcus cousing is filipino? can any one confirm this? is he a legitimate filam?

[bsgermany]

We are not trying to get him as a Naturalized player. Instead we are trying to get him to play as someone with Filipino lineage since his mother said that her grandfather was a pure blooded Filipino. And the next step to do is to try and ascertain the factuality of it. If true and going by FIBA rules he will not be qualified as a naturalized player. It somewhat similar to your Chris Kaman situation.

I don't think it would be similar to our "Kaman case" the way you would like it to be handled, 'cause despite his german great grandparents, I believe that he is still using up that one particular spot for a anturalized player. Otherwise, we possibly would have seen another NBA-player on the roster, since there where talks about Donte Greene already, that immendiately got pretty silent as soon as we had discovered Chris Kaman, who is certainly the much better option.
I haven't studied the FIBA regulations on this yet, but I don't think it's that easy.

[nardy]

I don't think it would be similar to our "Kaman case" the way you would like it to be handled, 'cause despite his german great grandparents, I believe that he is still using up that one particular spot for a anturalized player. Otherwise, we possibly would have seen another NBA-player on the roster, since there where talks about Donte Greene already, that immendiately got pretty silent as soon as we had discovered Chris Kaman, who is certainly the much better option.
I haven't studied the FIBA regulations on this yet, but I don't think it's that easy.

hmm are you sure that Kaman was classified as a Naturalized Player because in the 2008 Beijing Olympics where Kaman played, Germany had also suited up Demond Greene who was born in Fort Hood, Texas. In the same team it includes Robert Garrett another American-German.

On Donte Greene, even though he was born in Munich, Germany the problem is that he already played for TEAM USA more than once. First was 2006 FIBA Americas U18 Championship for Men in San Antonio, Texas where the Americans won the GOLD Medal and then at the 2007 USA Basketball U19 World Championships where the US took home the silver medal after losing to Serbia in the championship game.