Please don’t believe that Marcus Douthit was restored into the Gilas Pilipinas lineup on Sunday for that tasteless task of sinking the ball in the opponent’s goal.
With the choking desperation, coach Chot Reyes could’ve called on anybody nearby, except maybe for the floor sweeper, to carry out the stupid mission.
It’s like this: Reyes had reportedly asked one of the referees if the intended errant goal would be counted. He got a nod, but not a tacit assurance.
Douthit posted near the goal, got the pass from inbound receiver skipper Jimmy Alapag, tiptoed and rolled in the ball.
There was no applause, the scoreboard froze.
The referees stalled, then went into a huddle.
True enough, the Douthit goal did not count.
Reason: It was against the “spirit of fair play.”
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It was truly unsportsmanlike.
But please don’t ask anymore what went into the head of the Gilas coach that led him to devise a silly desperate play.
Did he ever think of any repercussion, like the Philippines being sneered at in world basketball?
It was totally unexpected, but it was easy to believe Reyes might have also gone berserk.
Anyway, as a consolation, the move helped hasten the exit of the national squad in the Asian Games, thus saving Filipino fans from repeated agony each time the celebrated Gilas Pilipinas team would set out on the floor abroad.
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Another thing: What if, say, somebody in authority, like the tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, had been around, would’ve Reyes approached him for approval?
It’s hard to tell, although Mr. Pangilinan, benevolent basketball benefactor, was yesterday quoted as saying it indeed was a sad day for the Philippines, but that the road to Asian supremacy has just grown doubly stiff.
MVP was also quick to assure there was no need to worry, now that Philippine basketball has undergone vast improvement.
Yes, like the national coach, a terrific speaker with only “Row-4” defensive basics and knowledge, gaining the ability to cap a tragic expedition with a ridiculous last-gasp play?
Enough is enough, please.
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(STRESSFUL SPORT—From Dr. Jim Sanchez, pioneer of the charity off-shore clinics hereabouts: “Sorry to say, but I’ve stopped watching Philippine basketball even before the Fiba. I am not blaming anyone. I avoid chronic or repeated heartaches. [We already know the result if we play in Asian and World Basketball competitions.] It is a source of stress. It contributes to the causes of heart disease, cancer, etc. Just my thoughts. Thank you. May Gilas rest in peace.)