Ni NOEL ABUEL
Binati ni Senador Sonny Angara ang mga miyembro ng Gilas Pilipinas sa unang gintong medalya para sa basketball sa Asian Games na susi para matapos na ang 61 taon na pa-asam ng bansa na makuha uli ito.
Ayon pa kay Angara, chairman ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, na ang gold medal match ng Gilas Pilipinas laban sa Jordan at ang nakaraang laro laban sa China ay siguradong pag-uusapan ng Pinoy hoops fans sa mga susunod na taon.
“The odds were against us. Jordan was the favorite to win the finals with the way it ran through its opponents on the road to the finals, including an 87-62 victory over Gilas Pilipinas. But the Philippine team never lost its focus and got huge morale boosts with its victories over Asian powerhouses Iran and China,” sabi pa ni Angara.
“In the end, Gilas just wanted it more. Everyone on the team stepped up, played hard and never lost sight on its goal of bringing the Philippines back on the pinnacle of Asian basketball,” dagdag nito.
Pinuri ni Angara ang buong coaching staff na pinamumunuan ni head coach Tim Cone, assistant coaches Richard del Rosario, Josh Reyes, Jong Uichico at LA Tenorio sa paggawa ng mga kinakailangang pagsasaayos laban sa kumpiyansa ng koponan ng Jordan at sa pagpapanatili ng pangunguna sa halos lahat ng laban sa finals.
“Special thanks goes to the people behind and not so behind the scenes including SBP chairman emeritus Manny Pangilinan, SBP president Al Panlilio, San Miguel Corporation top honcho Ramon S. Ang, team manager Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willy Marcial, who served as the deputy team manager. All the achievements of Gilas were made possible with their unequivocal support,” pahayag ni Angara.
Matapos makita ang performance ng Gilas noong Asian Games, sinabi ni Angara na mas optimistic ito sa kinabukasan ng Philippine basketball.
“Next up is the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. It will be a huge challenge to clinch a spot to the Olympics but with the way Gilas has been playing and with the support of the entire nation behind them, nothing is impossible,” ayon pa dito.
Nanindigan si Angara na suportado nito ang Philippine national basketball program kahit anumang ang posisyon nito bilang SBP chairman, o bilang senador.
Sa paglipas ng mga taon, sinimulan at sinuportahan ni Angara ang naturalization ng mga stalwarts ng Gilas, kabilang sina Justin Brownlee at Ange Kouame, na parehong gumanap ng mahahalagang papel sa finals match laban sa Jordan.
“They both share a strong affinity to the Philippines and signified their genuine desire to represent the country. Each and every member of Gilas Pilipinas had to make sacrifices and gave it their all for flag and country and for that, the entire nation thanks them,” sabi ni Angara.
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