GILAS Pilipinas took it on the chin and fell on Monday. There were serious fears the national team, after a sensational opening win over host Chinese Taipei, had been badly shaken in suffering its first loss against South Korea in the current Jones Cup tournament.
The fears were unfounded. It took no time for the gallant national squad to get off the floor.
Gilas Pilipinas, in fact, did not only make up for the loss against South Korea. It shamed the big bullying Russian team Spartak Primorye, riding on unwavering pride, grit and courage.
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It’s like this. When Gilas beat Chinese Taipei in its first game on Sunday, there appeared the clear signs of a bright new system for the team, anchored on selflessness and harmonious overall mobility.
Gilas also introduced a couple of national team first-timers—Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva—in completing a conquest of the favored Taiwanese team which had beaten the Philippines in the Fiba Asia championship in 2013.
The final quarter heroics of the two Gilas newcomers helped seal the national team’s first win.
Despite the victory though, national coach Tab Baldwin said there was no reason to get carried away.
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It did not take long for Baldwin’s apprehension to be upheld.
Gilas lost to South Korea the following day, thereby exposing serious cracks in the revolutionary team system introduced by Baldwin.
All of a sudden, Gilas’ newfound unity appeared like a mere mirage as it allowed itself to be scattered in bowing to the sharp, fleet-footed South Koreans.
Baldwin was quick to pinpoint the culprit: Careless individualism.
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Gilas (1-1) had to readily get back, although it had a tall daunting task against the unbeaten Russians (3-0) on Tuesday.
Going by the inborn physical disparity between Russia and the Philippines, all the windows had been slammed on smaller Gilas snipers well ahead of the battle.
While the Russians could have started mildly, Spartak however drew blood inside two minutes after Sonny Thoss incurred a head wound courtesy of an intentional elbow blow from a Russian team pillar.
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If the Russians thought the Filipinos would cower, they next had a rude awakening.
The entire Gilas bench met the boorish Russians every inch of the way, as the match took a rough and very rugged turn, a big test of heart more than of gaming competence.
“Maybe the Russians thought they could bully us. No way,” Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan exclaimed after the great all-revealing Gilas win.
The post-win accolade was apt. There were proud moments for Gilas on Tuesday when it had seemed the likes of legendary Pinoy international enforcers like Melencio, Jaworski, Badion, Reynoso were on the floor to reinforce and protect national pride and honor.