Gilas Pilipinas: Rich heart, poor shot
By Recah Trinidad
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 06 Oct 2015
OUT in the Mandaluyong City wet market on Sunday, tireless sports enthusiast Buboy Sebreros said there was only one way the Philippinnes could beat China: Engage the Asian basketball stalwart in a single-quarter title match.
Why not decide the championship via toss-coin, instead?
The morning was sunny and crisp, but it was not a beautiful Sunday out there in the national sports backyard
**
Even tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, patron cum laude of the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball squad, didn?t sound too interested in chasing the elusive Olympic slot via the backdoor, which will be opened through extra qualifying tournaments next year.
The Philippines became an automatic invitee to the special qualifying series by virtue of its runner-up finish behind China in the Fiba Asia championship that came to a close in Changsha, China Saturday night.
The whole of China, feeling mighty rich and proud, whooped it up after a hard-earned 78-67 victory over the Philippines before a terribly emotional home crowd. It marked China?s return to the Asian basketball throne, which it first took in the 1975 Asian Basketbal Confederation championship in Bangkok, Thailand.
**
Benefactor MVP, with bottomless rich support for sports, must? ve felt very poor after the Gilas national squad failed in what he called ?the greatest fight of our life.?
Did they come to the wrong place at the wrong time?
Far from that. The crown had indeedl seemed within reach after the sweet Philippine conquest of defending Asian champion Iran on Friday.
**
Despite the assorted glitches, the cramming, the nightmare loss to Palestine, things were starting to go right.
It was just too bad that Gilas Pilipinas showed up with its worst shooting form on championship night. It could make only 25 per cent of its outside shots.
There were biased calls, non-calls. But Gilas, which led 15-10 after four minutes, started to lose grip once China spread out a tall and solid man-zone fence. All at once, the basket loomed a lot farther out for the shorter Filipinos.
Gilas started strong, fought hard. But it inevitably fell to ferocious towering defense, which shoved the national squad into a low-percentage groove.
The most dreadful point came when Gilas, shaky from the foul line, flubbed basket after basket in the crucial final quarter.
**
It was Maundy Sunday in the hearts of Filipino fans.
Coach Tad Baldwin would meekly admit they had the opportunity, but they failed to measure up.
Baldwin said the Gilas team deserved all the respect and admiration from a country it had served with dignity and pride.
**
No giving up, don?t lose hope, Pangilinan said. The loss to China should not be taken as a complete setback.
?We should look at the positive aspects of the program and things that need to be improved,? Pangilinan said.
Instead of try the backdoor, Pangilinan said it?s time to ?prepare forward.?
He pointed to China which started a massive rebuilding two years ago, after it failed to make the quarterfinals of the Fiba Asia championship in Manila.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
RICHARDS AND AZEEZ SET FOR HISTORIC SHOWDOWN AS SOUTH LONDON LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHTS FACE-OFF AT PRESS CONFERENCE IN GHANA
Fri, 19 Dec 2025Brooklyn’s undefeated Pryce Taylor Called one of top heavyweight prospects in U.S.
Fri, 19 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT RESULTS AS GIORGIO VISOLI OVERCOMES TOUGH JOE HOWARTH – AND TIAH-MAI AYTON WINS AGAIN
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Weights From ProBoxTV’s ‘Merry Fistmas’ at War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Tomorrow Night at 7 pm ET
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Undefeated Jose Tito Sanchez Returns to Face Jesus Ramirez Rubio in Super Bantamweight Main Event on Friday
Thu, 18 Dec 2025Three boxers aim for finals
By Joaquin Henson, Wed, 17 Dec 2025BOOM! Terence Crawford Stuns the World with Retirement at 42-0
By Dong Secuya, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Jake Paul vs Anthony Joshua: The Biggest “Crossroads” Fight Ever!
By Ralph Rimpell, Wed, 17 Dec 2025Donaire ready for Tsutsumi
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025INDIGO FIGHT NIGHT: WEIGH-IN RESULTS AND RUNNING ORDER CONFIRMED AS CONNOR MITCHELL GETS READY FOR HIS PRO DEBUT
Tue, 16 Dec 2025THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION DECEMBER 15 DECEMBER 2025: Gassiev KO Pulev in 6; Mikaeljan Beats Jack for WBC Cruiser Title; Pacheco Outpoints Sadjo
By Eric Armit, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Sumalinog, Castanol rule Senior, PWD fun run
By Lito delos Reyes, Tue, 16 Dec 2025Vargas urges boxers to defy odds
By Joaquin Henson, Tue, 16 Dec 2025GIORGIO VISIOLI SETS OUT MISSION TO LAND MAJOR TITLES AFTER TENSE FIRST FACE-OFF WITH ENGLISH TITLE RIVAL JOE HOWARTH
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025