Gilas feels for PH delegation in Fiba bid
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/AUGUST DELA CRUZ
A day after the Philippines lost the hosting chores for the 2019 FIBA World Cup to China, the Gilas Pilipinas squad felt for the delegation which got outbid in Tokyo.
“I’m disappointed for our group, for MVP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan) and the group he put together. I’m really hurting for them,” said coach Tab Baldwin.
“The saddest thing is majority of the Filipino people were dying for this to happen and they’ll be very sad, but it will be another day. But for the guys who put up so much time, effort, and money, and resource, and put their heart into this, and everybody could see that from the emotional presentation, it won’t be easy. It’s a bitter pill to swallow and they’ll remember this for a long time. I hurt for them and we all should hurt for them because it’s a heroic effort on their part,” he said.
“China proved once again what a powerful economic force they are today.”
Baldwin, however, would like his players to temper their emotions and not get too caught up with the defeat of losing the bid.
“We’re independent. Our task doesn’t change and our motivation doesn’t change,” he said.
The American-New Zealander continued, “The players are aware of the people who support us and they’re the same guys who make Gilas possible. That was MVP’s goal: To earn the right for the Filipino people. But they didn’t achieve that and we’re ready to embrace them when they come and make them feel better about their commitment to the game. It really doesn’t change the effort we need to put in. It’s a reminder of why we’re doing this.”
Asi Taulava, meanwhile, sees it otherwise.
Though he says China deserves the rights and wishes the country luck, the competitive fire for the 42-year-old is still glaring and he sees the defeat as another motivation to perform well in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China.
“Us as a national team, we should use it as motivation, to strengthen us going to the FIBA Asia, to go there and kick their behinds and bring home the medal. That’s how we’re looking at it,” he said.
“Coach has been preparing us all day. It’s been fun and we just have to continue growing and learning as a team for the next six weeks,” Taulava added.
