Javee Mocon Not Included in Gilas Line Up for Indonesia Game: The Explanation

When you are building a national team whom you hope can compete at a high level in international competitions such as the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, the assumption is that you will include all of the best players that are made available at your disposal. Or at the very least, you would select players who already have gained experience playing in international tournaments. 

If you look at the final line-up of Gilas Pilipinas for their upcoming game against Indonesia for the opening window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers, there are only 7 PBA players and only two of them are playing in the PBA since 2014 and 2016. The five others are in their second and third year in the league respectively. In fact, Kiefer Ravena, one of the best rookies in his draft class, was suspended for 18 months after proving via a random test drug that he consumed WADA-banned substances. Also included in the line up of interim Coach Mark Dickel are two incoming PBA rookies, a 3-time UAAP Finals MVP in Thirdy Ravena, a former UP standout in Juan Gomez De Liano, and an Ateneo player who hasn't played a single UAAP game in Dwight Ramos.

Now, some people cannot help but ask the question: Why is Dwight Ramos included and not Javee Mocon?

After all, Javee Mocon, a four-time NCAA champion with the San Beda Red Lions and the NCAA Finals MVP in 2018, has been playing in the PBA for the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters who picked Mocon as the 6th pick in the 2018 PBA Rookie Draft. And even before the announcement of the final 12 players for the Indonesia game, even Mark Dickel himself has admitted that the primary reason why Mocon was invited to the pool was the fact that Mocon impressed Dickel in the PBA especially when Dickel's TNT KaTropa faced the Elasto Painters. So, what's the reason why Javee Mocon didn't make the cut?

Let's begin by stating that Mark Dickel was quoted in saying that all of the PBA players in the training pool would certainly make the final line-up and yet Javee Mocon didn't. 

According to the interim coach, cutting Javee Mocon out of the roster was among the difficult decisions he has to make for the team. While Mocon was put into the reserves' list along with Jaydee Tungcab and another incoming PBA freshman in Rey Suerte, Mocon was the lone PBA player team who didn't make the cut. One factor that led to Mocon's exclusion from the roster is the fact that he is among the later comers to the pool. Another reason? Mocon is playing the same position as of that of Thirdy Ravena and Dwight Ramos. While Dickel said that it's unfortunate for a player of Mocon's caliber being left out of the national team line-up,  Mocon is still a part of the future of Gilas Pilipinas along with Allyn Bulanadi and Mike Nieto. 

In short, Mocon's time with Gilas Pilipinas is yet to come.   

Photo is from Courtside Philippines