Alfrancis Chua, who also played for San Miguel Beer once, has been named officially as the program director and the team manager for Gilas Pilipinas and the junior team. This was announced on Wednesday, November 20th, and swiftly defines SBP’s mission to lift basketball performance in the nation.
Chua will also benefit from his rich experience as the Gilas team manager when the national team emerged as the champion during the 2023 Asian Games tournament. Chua has enormous experience in Philippine basketball as a Pablo totaling three of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Executive of the Year award and the SMC sports director.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announces the installation of Alfrancis Chua as Program Director and Team Manager for Gilas Pilipinas Youth and Men.
— SBP (@officialSBPinc) November 20, 2024
Read more about it here:https://t.co/OHmXIdM7dC#DeliverTheDream pic.twitter.com/RE2cjSjB7i
This appointment simply shows that the SBP has made a good decision to boost the operations of the program. He will report directly to the Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone and the newly appointed Gilas Youth head coach LA Tenorio to ensure that there is a clear vision on how to merge grassroots approaches with high performance.
SBP President Al Panlilion expressed optimism about Chua’s return to the Gilas program:
“I am very happy that Alfrancis is back with Gilas. I work well with him, and our only objective is to elevate Philippine basketball. The SBP also extends our appreciation to SMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ramon Ang for supporting this decision to have Alfrancis help the program again.”
Chua, for his part, is equally excited about the opportunity to contribute to the program:
“I’m happy I will be able to help Gilas in this capacity. I thank boss Ramon S. Ang for giving me his blessing in taking this new role, and I look forward to working with coach Tim and LA.”
Chua has been in charge of basketball operations for the San Miguel Corporation since 2015 which has been an overhaul of change. He led the Barangay Ginebra San Miguel after a barren run of 8 years and since then the team has grabbed seven PBA titles.
This success has convinced many people that this man is a true visionary, who can save programs and make them successful in the long run. Expectations are that his skills in teamwork, ability to motivate his players, and design good strategies shall be of advantage to both the men’s and the youth national teams.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone said he is fully behind Chua as the basketball team’s motivator and strategic analyst. Cone, who worked with Chua in the 2023 Asian Games, expects Chua will introduce something new in working on the program.
“It was great having him on the bench motivating the players. He is such a great motivator. That’s one of the things that we hope to enhance the program with his presence. He has always been there for me to consult with and talk with. And of course, we had that great run in the Asian Games which was fantastic.”
The first great challenge for Chua as program director will be to handle Gilas Pilipinas in the second window of the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. The national team is expected to be mining tough rivals starting with New Zealand on the 21st of November and then facing Hong Kong on the 24th of November. All the necessary details of the two games include the fact that they will both be held at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
These games are important for the Philippines at the current standing, they are in Group A and they headlong along with New Zealand at a win-win ratio of 2-0. A sweep of the November window will assure Gilas of a place in the continental tournament which is scheduled to be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia next year.
These responsibilities of Chua go beyond the competitions that are held in the immediate future of the program. He is expected to develop a strategic vision of how Philippine basketball can achieve its long-term vision of developing better talents by focusing on the Philippine team’s international performance, and the merging of the youth and senior teams.
This vision will be helped by new Gilas Youth head coach LA Tenorio, who will help Chua transition players from the youth level to the senior team.“We are creating a system that allows our young athletes to grow not just as basketball players but as individuals who can succeed on and off the court,” Chua emphasized during his announcement.
Being one of the most popular national basketball teams in Southeast Asia, fans are excited for the upcoming window for Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers. From succession in strategic leadership to the performance of the team on the floor, every part of the program is aspiring towards a better tomorrow for basketball in the Philippines.
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