Gilas grateful after narrowly escaping Istanbul bombing

Gilas Pilipinas in Istanbul. Photo from Marc Pingris’ Twitter account

The Philippine men’s national basketball team couldn’t be more thankful to have made it back home safe and sound.

Gilas Pilipinas arrived in Manila from Turkey late Tuesday night just hours before terrorists struck at Istanbul Ataturk Airport, killing 36 people and leaving hundreds injured, according to CNN as of posting.

“Turkey was my home 4 nearly 3 years. So saddened & worried for friends there. Thank the Lord our Gilas and Turk teams are safe. #Prayers,” national team head coach Tab Baldwin posted on his Twitter account.

Baldwin has vast international coaching experience and was once a coach in the Turkish Super League.

Players Marc Pingris and Andray Blatche also felt relieved to have escaped the tragedy.

“Grabe dito lang kami kanina pauwi galing Manila wala pang five hours bago nangyari to. LORD SALAMAT SA PAG GABAY MO SA AMIN NG TEAM GILAS. #prayforturkey #istanbul,” Pingris wrote on his Instagram.

“Me and my teammates was just there wow thank you God for watching over us I’m really lost for words I woke up to a lot of texts from friends checking on me I’m ok thanx love yal,” wrote the naturalized center.

The Turkish national team, which will also compete in the Olympic qualifying tournament here next week, was in the same flight as Gilas.

The Nationals came home after a three-week training camp in Europe.

Gilas is set to face Turkey anew in a tune-up game on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.

“Thank you lord for our (Gilas) safe passage out of Istanbul. I’m saddened by what just happened at the Istanbul airport,” Gilas team manager Butch Antonio tweeted.

RELATED VIDEO