PH 5’s dream finally came true

THE dream of our Philippine national basketball team to clinch a berth in the world basketball competition was finally realized by placing second in the prestigious FIBA Asia Championship last August 11 at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. We saw how our professional cagers, the “Gilas Pilipinas,” fought a gallant combat from day one to 11, crept and successfully attained the goal that has eluded them for 27 years.

Many surmised that if only our Pinoy 5 had at least two seven-footers to play as centers and bang against the behemoth 7’2” Iran pivot-man Hamed Haddadi, we could have seized the gold medal like what happened in Asia 1973. It was height versus speed and eventually the size and ruggedness of the Iranian team prevailed to recapture the gold they lost in 2011 to the China team after winning in 2007 and 2009.

Being the champion squad, FIBA officials voted Haddadi as the MVP of the tournament for collecting a game high 29 points with 15 rebounds in the final game. The wily Pampanga-born Jason Castro William was chosen as one of the members of the Mythical Five but our very own Marc Pingris of barangay Poblacion, Pozorrubio who played consistently and one of the main contributors in score, rebound, block and steal during the Gilas encounter versus South Korea surprisingly did not receive any award. To me, he’s my MVP. He played exceptionally well.

This second place finish of our Pinoy 5 will surely boost the popularity of this sport in the land and ticket sales in national college tournaments like the UAAP, NCAA and especially PBA will surely pick up inevitably. Let’s wait and see.

The main prize for the top three finishers, Iran, Philippines and South Korea is a journey to the FIBA World Championship slated in Spain on August 30-September 14 next year. Basketball analysts say we don’t really have a chance at all to land in the top eight in the 2014 FIBA World like what was done before (except in 1954 where Philippines placed third) because Gilas doesn’t have the height and the heft. It got only the speed and the outside shooting unlike the Americans, Europeans, Canadians, Hispanics and Australians, to name some, that got all the basketball ingredients for the highest level of playing. I believe them but let me echo the Olympic adage: “It’s not only the triumph, but the try.” I agree.

Talking about the Olympics, business tycoon and basketball godfather Manny V. Pangilinan said he will again lobby for the FIBA Asia Board to bring back the hosting of the FIBA Asia Championship to the Philippines in 2015 as the qualifying venue for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics in Brazil, with the winner as the only representative of Asia. The concept of Pangilinan is quite audacious but remarkable and laudable. But I guess FIBA will turn it down despite the very successful latest FIBA Asia, because a lot of Asian countries are also aiming to host the qualifying tiff and FIBA will give other nations a chance. But I’m puzzled why FIBA is giving only one slot for Asia in the 2016 Olympics. Asia being the largest continent of the world should have two or at least three like what it had in the just concluded FIBA Asia. FIBA is allocating two teams each for Americas (North, South, Central), Oceania, Africa and five for Europe. That’s very unfair. This is a discrimination against us, Asians. FIBA should treat us all equal as God treats us as the Good Book says. But with or without a stint by the Gilas in the 2016 Olympics, our Pinoy 5’s dream finally came true and this is an inspiration for us, Filipinos. We may not be the best in the world but we could be the best in Asia.

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I was surprised to observe that despite the big rains poured in by Typhoon Labuyo last Sunday, the main thoroughfare of Dagupan City, the A. B. Fernandez Ave. up to Lucao District, did not get flooded. The elevation of roads and improvement of inland waterways is now paying off. Thanks to Engr. Rodolfo “Boy” Dion for a job well-done. The cycling engineer has been moved to head the second engineering district of Ilocos Sur based in Candon City because DPWH badly needs his able services there. Mabuhay ka, Engineer.

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The staff of the Pangasinan Chess League (PCL) headed by Don Juan Sison wishes to extend their condolences to the family of their colleague, PCL Board of Director Jimmy Austria of barangay Poblacion, Lingayen, who passed away due to lingering illness last August 5.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: These are the things you shall do: speak each man the truth to his neighbour; give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbour; and do not love a false oath. For all these are things I hate,’ says the Lord. ZECHARIAH 8: 16-17

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