Strong starts wanted: Picking Gilas Pilipinas' starting five in FIBA World Cup

There is a school of thought in hoops that it is not about who starts the game but who actually finishes it. That belief is right to a certain extent, yet the importance of a good starting five can never be understated. After all, those first five players can set the tone of the game in more ways than one.

On that note, we at One Sports put on our analyst’s hat and did some armchair analysis as to the five players coach Chot Reyes should be starting in the FIBA World Cup—at least in our humble opinion.

Here goes nothing:

Kiko Demigilio gives a premium on length and versatility

G – Scottie Thompson

G – Jordan Clarkson

F – Bobby Ray Parks Jr.

F – Japeth Aguilar

C – Kai Sotto

Gilas will need all the length they can get when facing teams. With this lineup, they'll have a solid offensive and defensive squad to start the game.

Raul Maningat bets big on size and athleticism

G – Scottie Thompson

G – Jordan Clarkson

F – Jamie Malonzo

F – AJ Edu

C – Kai Sotto

This Gilas’ starting five has the most potent combination of length and athleticism. On the world stage, the Philippines has always had trouble facing taller teams with elite speed and quickness. These starters should give Gilas a fighting chance against its more physically gifted counterparts. Dwight Ramos, June Mar Fajardo, and Japeth Aguilar as substitutes should also give the team a substantial boost off the bench.

Gabriel Mallari shows the six-time MVP some love

G – Dwight Ramos

G – Jordan Clarkson

F – Jamie Malonzo

F – AJ Edu

C – June Mar Fajardo

As good as Kai Sotto is, I still couldn't put him ahead of Fajardo. I'm aware of The Kraken's shortcomings in previous international tourneys, but the attention he commands from the defense can potentially do wonders for Gilas.

Putting AJ, Jamie, and Dwight in the first five also satisfies my thirst for size and agility. Some may not like JC at point guard, but he'll get most of the usage anyway. This starting five also allows us to have the luxury of having Kai and Scottie off the bench.

Katrina Alba goes small, unconventional, and controversial

G – Jordan Clarkson

G – Scottie Thompson

F – Dwight Ramos

F – Jamie Malonzo

C – AJ Edu

If Kai Sotto has been suffering from back issues, it would be better not to force him to play at the FIBA World Cup at all. He has also missed plenty of practices and tune-up games, which have served not just to develop chemistry but to hone the fundamentals for the players.

For this, it would be good to actually see coach Chot Reyes hold on to his earlier vow of requiring players to allot multiple weeks for training. In an ideal world, Thompson would be 100% recovered from his hand injury. His energy will be much needed in Group A. But maybe Rhenz Abando can also get this shot to prove his worth.

Maybe it would be good to go quick to start things off for Gilas Pilipinas despite being undersized. Who knows? Maybe this young core could shock the world.

Jan Ballesteros goes high on speed and talent

G – Dwight Ramos

G – Jordan Clarkson

F – Jamie Malonzo

F – AJ Edu

C – Kai Sotto

The Philippines has always relied on speed in international competitions, with the likes of Jayson Castro and Jimmy Alapag gracing the lineup for the better part of the 2010s. With this starting five, Gilas can match up with size and athleticism now, so maybe it will work wonders.

Chester Fajardo puts a premium on familiarity

G – Jordan Clarkson

G – Dwight Ramos

F – Jamie Malonzo

F – Japeth Aguilar

C – Kai Sotto

Gilas Pilipinas is Jordan Clarkson's team. For better or for worse, the national team will live or die by JC. Therefore, chemistry with the Utah Jazz guard will be vital. Dwight Ramos, Jamie Malonzo, Japeth Aguilar, and Kai Sotto have all played with Clarkson, so that should help with the chemistry problem even with the short time of preparation with the NBA star. Shooting might not be Gilas' stronger suit in this tournament, but at least there's length and athleticism there.

A hard decision every which way you put it

The One Sports staff sure made some interesting and sensible picks for the Gilas starting five, and yours truly believes any of the suggested units could work wonders for Gilas.

But if it were up to me, I’d roll out a starting five of Thompson, Clarkson, Ramos, Malonzo, and Edu. It is a small lineup, yes, but it is also fast, athletic, and energetic. All can also shoot from beyond the arc as well, giving Clarkson more room to do his thing on offense. It can also play a high-octane style that can make for an explosive start to any game.