Who cares about the Gilas national team?
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 18 Aug 2015
WHEN Carlos Loyzaga injured his left hand playing softball on the side, the greatest Filipino basketball player ever had to be scratched from the Philippine national basketball team preparing for the 1960 Rome Olympics.
There was this little-known story of how Loyzaga had begged national coach Arturo Rius to reconsider and take him back into the national squad.
Loyzaga was said to have knelt before the national coach in tears.
Rius supposedly told the emotionally drained national team mainstay he could be reconsidered once the doctor clears him.
?If the doctor says your left wrist is fine, you can report back for training tomorrow,? Rius reportedly assured Loyzaga.
**
There?s this story of bigman June Mar Fajardo suffering from a bad foot, the reason he had to beg off from the national training pool being prepared by coach Tad Baldwin.
There seemed nothing nasty or suspicious there; although it was suddenly reported the other day Fajardo now suffers from two painful feet.
By the way, after Fajardo, easily the best big man in the national pool, left the squad, three other national team shoo-ins from the powerful San Miguel Corporation outfit pulled one after the other from the Gilas Pilipinas team.
**
As noted here earlier, the separate alibis submitted by Mark Pingris, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar were ?doubtful, abnormal, if not wholly odd.?
In Pingris? case, he did return from Paris where he had a reparation meeting with his French father.
Pingris next made it known he would be ready and available for Gilas Pilipinas, a decision that lent joy to the coach, members and backers of the national squad.
**
Then, in a stunning turn-around, Pingris officially begged off from the national team last Saturday.
Pingris also took time out to swear he had always wanted to serve in the national team, but ?some things are beyond our control.?
There naturally was outrage as the national basketball community was left to wonder what honestly was the matter, and who was to blame for the national team mess.
**
There had been shallow efforts to mask the foulness.
But with the latest developments, there?s no hiding the fact that the national team mess was caused mainly by politics.
Would it have helped if, say, the powerful outfit that had contributed the main stars during the Gilas Pilipinas stint in the Fiba Asia series in Manila and the subsequent World Cup in Spain got deserved mention or a piece of the credit?
The brutal truth may never be told in the open.
But in the case of Fajardo, the lurking treachery did surface ahead after it became clear he was already out of the Gilas national squad even before his alleged injuries could be checked or, hopefully, remedied.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Efe Ajagba vs Charles Martin: Zuffa Heavyweights Square Off on Sunday
By Chris Carlson, Sun, 15 Feb 2026“The Nightmare” Back in Action: Oguni vs Tapales April 3 in Japan
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 15 Feb 2026Cold Comfort: Tapales and Vitor Frozen Out in Moscow Heartbreaker
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 14 Feb 2026WBC Celebrates 63 years of dedication to the sports and fighters
By Gabriel F. Cordero, Sat, 14 Feb 2026BOXING STARS FROM AROUND THE WORLD LINING UP FOR 2026 HALL OF FAME WEEKEND IN "BOXING’S HOMETOWN"
Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Make Weight in Brico Santig's Valentine's Show in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Sat, 14 Feb 2026Filipinos Vitor and Tapales Take on Russians for IBF Asia Titles in Moscow Today
By Dong Secuya, Fri, 13 Feb 2026Manny Pacquiao Promotions Returns to Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. with a Pair of World Championship Bouts
Fri, 13 Feb 2026IOAN CROFT AND GARAN CROFT SIGN FOR MATCHROOM BOXING AS EDDIE HEARN LOOKS AHEAD TO BRIGHT FUTURE FOR EXCITING WELSH TWINS
Fri, 13 Feb 20263 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Ninth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Cinco De Mayo Weekend, Saturday May 2, in Las Vegas
Fri, 13 Feb 2026Day One Concludes at 2026 USA Boxing International Open
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Female Boxing GOAT Katie Taylor to be Special guest at All-N.E. Golden Gloves Thursday, Feb. 12, in Lowell, MA
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Brandon McCarthy Signs with Wise Owl Boxing, Set to Make Noise at 135 lbs
Thu, 12 Feb 2026Filipino Boxers Set for Action on Valentine's Day in Thailand
By Carlos Costa, Wed, 11 Feb 2026Oklahoma Outplays LA Lakers, 119-110; Arrests Skid to Hold on to League Lead
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Wed, 11 Feb 2026