Gilas chief backer MVP says it’s time to look forward

INCHEON, South Korea – With Gilas Pilipinas’ disappointing exit from the medal round of the 17th Asian Games, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president and team's chief backer Manny V. Pangilinan took the opportunity to thank the team and sympathize with them.

Pangilinan went to Twitter to publicly show gratitude for the team's effort and sacrifices in the last two years of the Gilas program.

Chot, to each and all of you my deep personal gratitude for what Gilas has accomplished- in Manila last yr and in Spain and Korea this yr.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) September 29, 2014

Quite a journey w/ its peaks and valleys; the road has been long and tough, the climb steep, the obstacles formidable from the get go

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) September 29, 2014

The new Gilas program under Chot Reyes started on a high note with a Jones Cup title and a silver medal finish in the FIBA Asia Men's Championship. It reached the summit of its success with its historic return in the FIBA World Cup and winning for the first time in 40 years.

But good things come to an end. From a nothing-to-lose and everything-to-gain perspective in the World Cup, Gilas succumbed to pressure in this 17th Asian Games.

Tipped to be a favorite to enter the finals, Gilas struggled mightily with a re-tooled lineup from the World Cup. They went here with an everything-to-lose mentality if they fail to win a medal.

They won over Kazakhstan, 67-65, but it felt more like a loss as they missed the semis due to inferior an quotient.

We report our results in Korea "heads bowed in sadness but not in shame." That said we take pride in all that Gilas has reached thus far.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) September 29, 2014

The team will still play in the consolation round but this early, Pangilinan is already looking ahead.

The Asian Games are now done. Time to look ahead; plan for FIBA Asia next yr in China, the winner qualifies for the 2016 Olympics

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) September 29, 2014

We must stay focused on our goal, and neither despair nor get deterred by the letdown in the Asian Games.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) September 29, 2014

In the meantime, it is time to bring the Team home so that they can restore normalcy to their lives with their loved ones. Safe journey.

— Manny V. Pangilinan (@iamMVP) September 29, 2014

Reyes has already indicated his willingness and his commitment to stay with the program but leaves it up to the management.

"The first step is reassess the program and see how we can get to 2015," Reyes said.