Argentina’s forward Andres Nocioni (C) vies with Philippines’ forward Gabe Norwood (L) and Philippines’ guard Jim Alapag (R) during the 2014 FIBA World basketball championships group B match Argentina vs Philippines at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes in Sevilla on September 1, 2014. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Despite the team’s elimination from the 2014 Fiba World Cup, Gilas Pilipinas is still a source of pride for the country, Malacañang said Thursday.
“Taas noo ang ating mga manlalaro, taas noo pa rin ang mga Pilipino ‘pagkat kahanga-hanga rin naman ang kanilang pinakitang husay sa pakikipaglaro,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said during a televised briefing.
(Our players are holding their head up high. Filipinos are also holding their head up high because the team has done well in the competition.)
Coloma said that although Gilas Pilipinas failed to beat Puerto Rico,73-77, it lost by a slim margin, similar to its previous games against higher-ranked squads like Croatia, Greece and Argentina.
“At sino mang nakakaunawa ng basketball ang magsasabing kung nadagdagan lang ang swerte eh maaari pang naipagtagumpay ito,” he said.
(And to anyone who understands basketball, they may say that with a little more luck, our team would have won.)
Malacañang has been cheering for the team since it joined the World Cup, its spokespersons remaining optimistic and enjoining the public to continue showing support.
However, the latest loss meant Gilas Pilipinas has been eliminated from joining the Round of 16.
Nevertheless, Coloma said it still has a game versus Senegal, a team that has also been considered an underdog earlier in the tournament but has been winning its games, on Thursday evening.
“Sa aking palagay ay dapat pa ring ipagpatuloy ang ating pagsuporta at dapat pa rin nating ipagmalaki ang Gilas Pilipinas,” the Secretary said.
(I think that we should still continue to show our support and be proud of Gilas Pilipinas.)
He also remained positive about Gilas’ chances in future international meets, citing that the team is set to compete in the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea shortly after the Fiba tournament later this month.
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