For years, there has been a belief that Filipinos aren’t big enough and tall enough to compete against some of the world’s best. While that might have rang true in the 90s, and even in the first iteration of the ‘Gilas’ national team in the late 2000s, that can’t be said now.

The fact that the two naturalized players in Justin Brownlee and Jordan Clarkson both stand at 6 ‘5 and play in the perimeter is a telling sign that we’re growing, literally and figuratively.

During the FIBA OQT, that size was pretty much evident, especially in the times where the 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto was available playing the four spot alongside the burly 6’10 June Mar Fajardo.

Are we a big team compared to the world’s best? Not by a long shot. But gone are the days where we say we aren’t big enough to compete against them.