SEVILLE, Spain—What, if we are to go by the team scoring statistics, did Gilas Pilipinas do better than its Asian rivals Iran and South Korea at the Fiba World Cup?
The Philippines shot more baskets, lost by fewer points, and had a narrower points-against to points-for difference.
Alas, these by themselves do not constitute absolute superiority but when the intangibles are factored in, the inescapable fact jumps out of the stats sheets: The Philippines indeed played a lot better as a team and more ferociously than both Iran and Korea.
The Filipinos, with Andray Blatche landing in the Top 5 of the tournament’s scoring derby after the group phase, matched Iran’s 1-4 record. Korea wound up winless in five games and, like its two Asian counterparts, failed to advance to the knockout rounds.
Gilas lost games by a total of 23 points, Iran by 77 and Korea by a whopping 108—an average losing spread of a fraction under 22 points. It was too uncharacteristic for a team that barely lost to the Filipinos in an enthralling Fiba Asia semifinal in Manila last year.
The scores reflected the Philippines’ tigerish stand in all its five games. For a squad that veteran pundits had predicted would lose by at least 20 points to three of its foes (Croatia, Greece and Argentina), this batch of Filipino basketeers showed uncommon gallantry.
Gilas bowed to Croatia, 78-81, in overtime; Greece 70-82; Argentina, 81-85; and Puerto Rico, 73-77, although it wrapped up its assignments with a predicted—albeit difficult—overtime decision over Senegal, the World Cup’s surprise package, 81-79.
The tall and athletic African champion had earlier stunned world No. 3 Argentina and European powerhouse Croatia and easily made it to the KO stages.
In contrast, Asian No. 1 Iran took a whipping from Spain, 60-90; Brazil, 50-79; Serbia, 70-83; and France, 76-81, while besting Egypt, 88-73.
Korea yielded to Angola, 69-80; Australia, 55-89; Slovenia, 72-89; Lithuania, 49-79; and Mexico, 71-87.
In all, Gilas shot a total of 383 points as against 404 by the enemy, while Iran scored 344 and gave up 406 and Korea ended up with a lopsided 316 for and 424 against.
The Filipinos’ refreshingly stronger offensive sock anchored on Blatche, their shifty guard rotation that kept the enemy guessing, plus their improved ability to deny them easy baskets made the results close.
These, according to national coach Chot Reyes and the rest of the coaching staff, made each of Gilas’ games tantalizingly winnable.