“IT was like losing a game in double overtime.”
Former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, who has had his share of close shaves and heart-rending defeats in the past, declared this last night on national television after the Philippines narrowly lost to China in the bidding to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup.
“Sakit (It hurts),” Reyes also said in his Twitter account @coachot a few minutes after International Basketball Federation (Fiba) president Horacio Muratore awarded the hosting rights to China at the end of the extended Fiba central board meeting in Tokyo.
Because the Fiba board deliberated longer than usual, the announcement was delayed twice. It indicated that the house was initially divided between China’s bid that focused on its impressive infrastructure and the Philippines’ passion for the sport.
Filipinos, like they did in the final few days leading up to the presentation, went to social media to air their feelings.
“Today’s decision doesn’t define us in the world of sports,” said one-time PBA MVP and injured Gilas Pilipinas pool member Kelly Williams on his Twitter account @KelWilliams21. “It means there’s more work to do.”
“I feel so bad for the people behind #puso2019 who put so much effort,” said Star Hotshots center Don Allado at @alotofDON.
“Dis should send message 2 our political leaders. To compete globally w/other countries, our infrastructure needs 2 improve tremendously.”
Asi Taulava and Calvin Abueva, who are also in the Gilas pool for the team that will shoot for an Olympic berth in the Fiba Asia Championship in China in September, said they want to use the sad news as motivation to win a berth in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games next year.
“We just got the best motivation 2day! Work Time !!!! Laban Pilipinas,” Taulava said at @agelessasi88.
During the presentation, Hollywood actor-director Lou Diamond Philips, whose mother is Filipino, made an emotional pitch to the Fiba board that spoke of the Filipinos’ passion for the sport.
“This is the event that will change the game forever,” Philips said. “You’re going to meet the greatest fans in the world.”
China said it would hold the basketball World Cup in eight cities where world-class venues are already in place.