FILIPINO hoop fans that follow the NBA ardently and even the Fiba Europe games knew from the start that Gilas Pilipinas attempt to secure a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics would not be easy even with a homecourt advantage.
It would be akin to that Filipino expression suntok sa buwan (punch at the moon).
But this reporter always felt that the moon could be hit if you try hard enough. Just ask Manny Pacquiao who did it against Marco Antonio Barrera in 2003 when almost every pundit said the Filipino had no chance. As we all know, Pacquiao forced the legendary Mexican into submission and was then on his way to further greatness.
Two different sports no doubt but with probably similar stakes. National pride is an intangible that compels those confronted with impossible odds to do their utmost. And one day, who knows, with a few tweaks with the way we play and manage our basketball, maybe we can beat some of the world’s best squads.
This was evident when Chot Reyes’ 2014 World Cup team went to Spain after a runner-up finish in the Fiba Asia the previous year. The country had never been to the world championships since it hosted the quadrennial meet at Araneta Coliseum in 1978. So much had changed in the basketball world since the country gallantly finished with the bronze medal in the 1954 Rio de Janeiro edition of the games (still the highest finish ever of an Asian nation).
Players are now taller, could move just as quickly as our fleet-footed guards and they shoot three-pointers like layups. Many players had NBA experience even if they were not all starters or stars. Just being in that high-level grind made players tougher because of the fight for playing time and jobs.
In 2014, Argentina, Greece and Puerto Rico had to play far better basketball to beat Gilas. Sure, we had Andray Blatche as our seven-foot naturalized reinforcement but almost all basketball countries on the planet have a naturalized player of some sort. Even Turkey, the team with giants, needed a naturalized point guard in the speedy Ali Muhammed.
We will probably never win the gold medal in the Olympics or the World Cup but what is to stop us from trying? The joy as always is in the quest, a truism already known by countries that make it to the football World Cup. Korea had their fill of going deep into that tournament in 2002 and roused up a nation ready to support their football Reds.
Our basketball leaders know what happened in the Manila Olympic Qualifying Tournament and what needs to be done to keep Gilas competitive and at least, be in the thick of competition to regain the Asian crown. The country has been without a major Asian title for close to three decades. We finished second in the last two editions of the Fiba Asia and the gold medal should be the next priority.
We will play on. The PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will come up with a win-win situation where we will have our fill of local basketball entertainment and competitive international participation. Having a year round supply of basketball should include an opportunity for the country to be one team supporting their players, trying to cut down the distance from the moon or a reachable star.