Uichico on Filipinos Playing Abroad: It's About the International Exposure

Thirdy Ravena is playing in Japan. Kai Sotto will soon play in Down Under. Kobe Paras recently left Diliman to pursue other opportunities abroad.

What do Ravena, Sotto, and Paras have in common?

They are the future of Philippine basketball.

For Gilas Pilipinas Head Coach Jong Uichico, the fact that these young guns are playing in international leagues will benefit the national team and Philippine basketball. For Uichico, it's about getting our players exposed to different ways how other leagues play the game.

"Individually, we are great basketball players. What we lack is the international exposure," he said on Saturday's episode of Bull By the Horn.

He explained, "We get cordoned to the Philippine style of game but, if our players and coaches are exposed to the international type of game, the style of play of Filipinos will improve more. We already have a distinct style, and then if we can mix it with the international style of play, I think our (playing) basketball will get better. We will have well-rounded basketball players and well-rounded basketball structure here in the Philippines,"

The nine-time Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) champion coach also reminded the importance of getting international exposure as a team. "Ideally, it should be the team that is getting international exposure, not just one or two (players). It should be the team that should be exposed internationally. So, you go all around all over the place. Practice, tournament here. You grow as a team, and you grow individually also,"

In the end, Uichico noted that having Ravena, Sotto, and Paras, and future players taking their talents elsewhere will benefit the basketball landscape of the Philippines.

"These three players and future players that will play abroad will have big improvements. It will benefit the Philippines in terms of the international game,"

For the host of Sports on Air, Ernest Leo Hernandez, who was also a guest on Saturday's discussion, the trio's decision to take their talents abroad won't be the last one.

"We should get used to it. This is gonna be a normal thing," Hernandez said.

Screenshot is from the pinoyliga.com Facebook page