Once again, the Philippines has come up short in an international competition with their defeat to Korea, 68-70. Disappointing, yes but the journey, heartfelt. For the past three years, the Smart Gilas National Team has continued to change the perception of the world on what the Filipinos can do, especially in the game dearest to our hearts, basketball.
During the fight for 3rd a while ago, Smart Gilas had all the chances to win. We were completely dominating the Korean opposition, as we were during the 2002 Busan Games, but "luck" has its limits. The Korean team made their shots when it mattered the most and their superior outside shooting continues to haunt us to this very day. Hats off to Korea for the victory but that was ours!!! Marcus Douthit showed the world why he's the best power forward in Asia with a dominating performance. The Mighty Mouse found his old form and played brilliantly. Sadly, basketball is a team game and a tough game like this can't be just won with 2 players playing well, offensively.
Free throws continue to haunt us to this very day from Olsen Racela's missed charities to the ones we missed today. It goes to show in general that the Filipinos are horrible free throw shooters, just saying. Marcus Douthit missed several down the stretch. Kelly Williams clanked 2 and Marcio Lassiter missed 1 hurting our chances. (Sadly, I don't want to label them as goats, too derogatory in a time like this) Bilog ang bola, that adage summarizes our misfortunes. At times the ball will fall for us and at times, it won't.
The Smart Gilas National Team showed the world that through hardwork, good coaching, and corporate funding that the dream is possible. Qualifying for the Olympics and regaining our rightful place as the
#1 basketball country is a dream attainable. Hats off to the Gilas team led by Coach Rajko Toroman. They have revolutionized on how the game of basketball should be played. Yes, there are star players to carry your team but nothing beats a team running like a well-oiled machine.
The Gilas program goes to show that talent development is possible. Bringing in the best of college basketball, some Fil-foreigner to add ceiling, and some old reliable players from the PBA, makes our National Team a young, quick, united and talented group. Our old concept of forming a National Team several months before the competition is bogus, and it shows because we haven't succeeded in doing so. We should continue this and build an even stronger team. Some of our players even became better players after they have joined this program. As a proof, all of them were selected in the Top 10 of the PBA Draft.
I would also like to give credit to Manny V. Pangilinan, MVP, for all that he has done for Philippine sports especially to basketball. He had a vision for Philippine basketball and it almost became a reality but God has other plans for him and the country. He should be hurting the most after all he has done but I believe Mr. Pangilinan's love for the game is a testament that basketball is not just a business venture but a way to pioneer change and to unite a country. I hope he still will be the benefactor for our National Team, if this project does continue, and in my opinion it will.
What is next for the Smart Gilas team? Yes, all its players except for skipper Chris Tiu and Marcus Douthit will be joining their respective PBA team but if we want to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, we need to start NOW! The main concern is who would be funding for this team? I hope Mr. Pangilinan still does but only time will tell. Without proper funding, our National Team will not develop. It is through money we get to hire the best coaches, play in tough international competitions abroad, and have better training in other countries and without money, how do you expect to run a team? Second, who will be the coach for this team? Coach Rajko did a magnificent job, in my opinion, in running the team. He single handedly changed the brand of play for Philippine basketball from being an one-on-one isolation team to a team who runs a fluid system. If they decide to keep Coach Rajko, good. If not, I hope that we can find someone as passionate and energetic as him to teach us the proper way to play basketball. Lastly, the talent of the Gilas team will be better. The UAAP and the NCAA is full of talented players they can choose from. The future really looks bright for Philippine basketball.
As a whole, I salute the Smart Gilas team for being back the pride and the recognition of Philippine basketball. Yes, they did not win and qualify for the Olympics, but they won over a nation's heart. Mabuhay ang Smart Gilas at Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
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