Gilas energy-guy Jared Dillinger takes big step in the Asian Games
Jared Dillinger looks out the car window. His eyes pierce through the traffic jam. In a couple of hours, he’ll fly to Korea for the Asian Games not just as a vital supporter, but, as an active player on the Gilas roster. He has so much to ponder on. For every reason to look back at past personal challenges, he has twice as many reasons to look ahead as a Gilas player. What he sees outside his car window excites him. He doesn’t see gridlock on the street. What he sees is a future for Gilas that extends way, way past the immediate tournament he’s about to compete in.
MH: So you’re on your way to the airport. Only this time, you’ll fly out as someone who will play and not someone who will go all-out to support the team. How big a difference is that?
JD: It’s going to be the same mentality. We didn’t really know who was going to be on the team when we first went out to Miami (before the FIBA World Cup). So I was still preparing as if I was going to be on the team in terms of the World Cup. When I found out that I didn’t make it, you know, of course your mentality changes and you support the team and help the guys behind the scenes any way you can. It’s just the same mentality when we were going to Miami. Nothing changes in terms of my preparation.
MH: When you have quiet time to think, reflect, what goes through your mind as you prepare to go to Korea?
JD: I know the expectations are a little bit different for us coming into the Asian Games as opposed to coming into the World Cup. A lot of people are expecting us to perform very well. In the World Cup, we had unknown expectations. We really didn’t know what to expect because it was our first time there. Now in the Asian Games, we’re one of the top Asian teams, other teams kind of have a target on us. I know Korea wants to get back at us. China didn’t do too well in the FIBA Asia Championships last year so they’ll be ready to go. And Iran is always strong and they want to make sure they solidify their hold on the whole of Asia. It’s going to be a lot different. It’s going to be more difficult in terms of what we want to do and what we want to accomplish.
MH: While you were supporting your teammates in Spain, how were you personally preparing for the Asian Games?
JD: At this point, I’m just trying to play catch-up like Marcus (Douthit). When Coach (Chot Reyes) made a decision for the final 12 (for the Asian Games), I just went into this crazy-man training mode where I just wanted to be ready for the Asian Games. I was still doing two-a-days. I was shooting anytime I could get on the court. I was training with the coaches. I was biking. I was running. I was doing plyo. It was to the extent that I strained myself and I got hurt. But I’m healed up and I’m ready to go. I’m hoping the 23rd will come a little bit sooner so we can get it started already.
MH: How excited are you as a team? Do you all feel like, hey, the sooner we can play, the better?
JD: It’s about mentally staying within the moment. The World Cup was such a high. The emotions can be somewhat draining just after what the team went through and everything everyone had to battle with. To be honest, sure, the guys are a little bit tired here and there. A lot of these guys like (Marc) Pingris, Jimmy (Alapag), Gabe (Norwood), Paul (Lee), and Jeff (Chan), they go to the (PBA) finals every year. It’s that mentality that has rubbed off like we just have to keep this thing going and just keep plugging away. Everyone’s ready. Everyone’s sharp.
MH: Of course, the objective of the team is to win the gold medal. But did you set personal goals for the Asian Games?
JD: No, to be honest, no. My goal is help win the gold medal for the team. No one is trying to prove anything other than knowing our roles on the team. We know what we can do and we stick to our strengths and do whatever we can to help the team. In my case, it’s no different. I’ll run the floor. I’ll take the jumper if it’s there. I’ll play defense. I wish I could score 100 points per game but I’ll just stick to helping the team reach its goal.
MH: So you have nothing to prove to each other. So you know you all belong on this team that’s headed for Korea. But somehow, do you still feel like you want to prove they maybe you should’ve played in Spain? Or is there no motivation whatsoever thinking that Spain is a different thing and Korea is a different thing?
JD: All players that make it to the league, everyone’s very competitive and, of course, I wanted to be there. No doubt about it. I wanted to be there. And I wanted to play. I wanted to show, not only myself, but also the Philippines that I deserved to be there. That being said though, I still respect the decision of the coach. But coming into this point now and I’m on the team now, I’m going to play hard. I want to show people that I belong on the team. I’m not a charity case like he’s just on the team because of whatever, whatever. I’m here to help the team and I’m excited.
MH: Considering what you’ve gone through (figuring in a car accident in April of 2013) and what you did to get back in shape and now you have the opportunity to play for Gilas again in the Asian Games, will this be, so far, the highlight of your career?
JD: That’s a good question. It’s definitely going to be an experience that I won’t forget. I got to experience a lot of things in my career. It’s really hard to put everything in perspective. I guess at the top of my head, no. I don’t know why. I just see it as a goal. I don’t see it as a highlight. It’s like, okay, next up Asian Games, let’s try and win gold. That’s all I think about. I’m just looking at this a lot simpler.
MH: I think I know why. I think it’s because you know that the Asian Games is a step. It’s not the ultimate goal. Is that why?
JD: I’m not assuming by any means necessary, but I just know we have so much more going on in terms of after the Asian Games – the Olympic Qualifiers, FIBA Asia again, and so, and so forth. I see this more as a task at hand and we’ll do the best we can so we can make everyone very proud of us.
