Duterte meets Gilas players in China: ‘We are praying for your victory’

MANILA, Philippines – “Never too late to dream. We are praying for your victory,” President Rodrigo Duterte told Gilas Pilipinas players whom he visited in Foshan, China on Saturday.

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The Philippines’ men’s basketball team is set to begin its 2019 Fiba World Cup campaign against Italy at around 7:30 p.m.

LOOK: Gilas Pilipinas’ Fiba World Cup group stage schedule

In a video posted by The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ Facebook page, the President was seen entering the Gilas Pilipinas locker room with Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.

“We are here to give you the spirit to fight, kaya natin to. [We can do this.],” he said “Basta ako para sa inyo andito ako. [I am here for all of you],” the President said.