Manny V. Pangilinan, the telecommunications tycoon and prime mover of the Gilas Pilipinas cage program, expressed confidence Tuesday that the country can rebound from recent natural disasters the way the National five did in the 27th Fiba-Asia Championship last August.
“The story of Gilas and the recent tragedies remind us that we are tied together in this life, in this nation in basketball—that the despair of some touches us all,” Pangilinan said in his speech during the PBA Press Corps’ “A Banquet of Heroes” at Wack Wack.
“Tulad ng Gilas, kaya natin bumangon. Sana kahit papaano, ang kwentong Gilas ay magsilbing inspirasyon sa ating bayan (Like Gilas, we can rise again. I hope that the story of Gilas will serve as an inspiration to our country,” added Pangilinan, who owns PLDT and Meralco in the league.
“Puso (heart)—Laban Pilipinas,” closed Pangilinan, the only team owner in the affair aside from Wilfred Uytengsu of Alaska.
Gilas Pilipinas was feted along with the 1973 and 1986 national teams that won the Asian Basketball Confederation championship after finishing second to Iran in the Fiba-Asia and making it back to the World Basketball Championship after 35 years.
Meanwhile, PBA commissioner Chito Salud yesterday bared plans to send the Gilas five straight to the Asian Games in South Korea just weeks after the Nationals end their World stint in Spain.
Salud had hinted of this at Wack Wack and during the 39th Season launch at Shangri-La Makati “to give this country its best shot at being supreme again in Asia.”
Gilas coach Chot Reyes was with Salud and team governors during the launch. The new season opens Sunday with a game each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.