Jordan Heading (second from the left) at the Gilas Pilipinas bench. –FIBA BASKETBALL PHOTO
BOCAUE — Another Jordan was big for Gilas Pilipinas on Friday night.
Filipino-Australian gunner Jordan Heading had 10 points in the Philippines’ 107-96 domination of Lebanon at the Philippine Arena here.
“We got that ball moving fast up and down, it was what we wanted when we started playing. It’s always fun to put up a lot of points on the board. It’s a little bit more exciting for the fans as well. Yeah, it’s just really fun being out there with the guys,” he told reporters shortly after the victory.
Heading hardly looked like he missed a step, figuring prominently in a second third-quarter pull away to ultimately end up as one of the six Filipino players who finished in double digits.
Heading’s outing came at a time when Gilas was missing several mainstays, which include another dead-eye shooter in Roger Pogoy. More importantly, at a time when Gilas was also missing another scoring stud in Jordan Clarkson.
Heading’s performance also somehow rendered his contract row with the national federation a distant thing of the past.
But really, it was just his way of making the most out of his first Gilas game with the home crowd around.
“This night was incredible for me. I mean, in my earlier Gilas days, we were in the bubble so I wasn’t able to experience the Gilas crowd. It’s always everything that I’ve dreamed of, and it was just so amazing. The players, the atmosphere playing in the Philippine Arena, it was just super fun,” he said.
Heading said that turning in a commendable performance is his way to honor his being part of something special.
“It’s amazing being back here. I always have the time of my life with Gilas. The love and support of the country, and also just the brotherhood of the guys, it’s really fun to be a part of,” he said.
“A special, special team. It is something that means so much to us and it is something that means so much for the country,” Heading added.