Gilas Pilipinas: Against All the Torments of the Past
History is replete with predictions. But not this time around.
It all started since that 11 days of August 2013 when Filipinos successfully rewritten the basketball history deep into each one’s heart, one which we will never forget. It always felt like a list of our old Asian rivals torments some of us like a list of murders. It is invidious to mention among so many, the one that stabs in the heart, is South Korea.
The Philippines, second among the best in Asia in terms of Asian championship, made it to Olympics from 1936 through 1972, except for one occasion. But since then, the Philippines has never been back to the world stage of basketball, considering the love and passion Filipinos have for this sport.
MEDAL TALLY
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
1 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 18 | |
2 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | |
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |
4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 24 | |
5 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 14 | |
6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | |
7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | |
8 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
10 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
11 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Total | 27 | 27 | 27 | 81 | |
Source: FIBA
Which Asian team stabbed a dagger in some of the die-hard fans of Philippine basketball? Teams like China and Iran have leveled up a notch higher in terms of international competitiveness these days, but for me, South Korea has never failed to torment our hopes to bring back the basketball glory Filipinos once had. Korea made it a habit to bury the remaining faith of Pinoy fans whenever both teams play in bronze or semifinal round.
I remember full well how the South Koreans shattered the hearts of Filipino fans in the semifinal round of the 2002 Busan Asian Games. Korea was leading by four points coming into the last two minutes of the game. With its relentless attack, the Philippines managed to grab the lead with a back-to-back three pointers. Olsen Racela, the point guard of the Philippines, was fouled with 23 seconds remaining, a chance to make the lead to four points. A spell of bad luck struck again, he missed both free throws. South Koreans took the rebound and scrambled back down the court, an opportunity to extend the game into overtime or even better, win the game with a three point play. With five seconds left, a South Korean guard drove down the basket and lost the ball and ended up to the hands of Lee Sang-min who was standing behind the three point line. Oddly disappointing, the deadly shooter sank the winning three points at the buzzer.
Outweighing decades of sorrow, Gilas Pilipinas stood with unalterable determination to finally win against a team that they hadn’t beaten in 28 years (in a major international tournament) in the semifinal round of 2013 FIBA Asia Championships last year in front of thousands of hopeful home crowd. A win that opened the door in the FIBA World Cup in Spain, alongside powerhouse teams like USA, Spain, and Argentina. Finally, the Philippines ended the torment of Korea and started a journey back to the world basketball stage after 40 years.
Players that made history in August 2013 include Pozzorubio, Pangasinan’s Marc Pingris, Jimmy Alapag, Jayson Castro, LA Tenorio, Gary David, Larry Fonacier, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo and naturalized player Marcus Douthit.
Brooklyn Nets’ Andray Blatche will compete in the lone naturalized player slot with Marcus Douthit, given that the Congress will approve his naturalization papers. Other players who are included in the training pool of the national squad are Rain or Shine’s Beau Belga, Barangay Ginebra big man Greg Slaugther, San Miguel Beermen swingman Marcio Lassiter, Meralco’s Jared Dillinger, and Rain or Shine’s point guard Paul Lee.
The Philippines will compete in the FIBA 2014 World Cup preliminary round group including Senegal, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Greece, and Croatia. - Romulus Gutierrez (FOCUS)
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