PBA chair: Gilas must dream on

MANILA, Philippines – Top officials of the Philippine Basketball Association weren’t discouraged by Gilas Pilipinas’ showing in the 17th Asian Games, insisting the national team must continue to aspire to inspire the Filipino people.

“We must continue to dream,” said PBA board chairman Patrick Gregorio.

“After our win against Kazakhstan, it took us more than an hour to leave the arena. Thousands of Filipino overseas waited for our PBA heroes. Our players obliged, they signed autographs, they took selfies. We will go home without a medal this time around but we made our kababayans very happy. This is what Puso ng Gilas is all about,” Gregorio pointed out.

PBA commissioner Chito Salud stressed they’re keeping their commitment of support to the national team, saying they’re encouraged by the performance of Gilas Pilipinas in the World Cup in Spain and in the Asian Games in Incheon, Korea.

Salud did feel, however, that many Filipinos expected more from the Nationals especially in their Asiad.

“Rightfully so,” said Salud, himself sorry for the Gilas’ losses to Qatar and South Korea that denied Team Phl of entry into the medal round in the quadrennial games.

The PBA’s continued support to the national team could be in the agenda of the annual planning session of the PBA board of governors in Seoul, Korea set Sept. 30 to Oct. 4.

Gregorio and Salud left ahead of the group to catch the quarterfinals of the Asian Games basketball competition. The other members of the PBA board departed for Korea Monday.

For the league commissioner, the first order after the Asiad is to sit down in a meeting with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan

“We’ll exchange thoughts on what happened in Spain and in Korea, in essence, to conduct a critical analysis,” said Salud.

“Then, I will do a round of consultations with our team owners to express gratitude for their support and share my views, as well as solicit theirs,” Salud added. “On that basis, we should arrive at a consensus on how best to pursue the program moving forward.”

Off hand, Salud believed the most ideal first move is to “consolidate the gains (in Spain and in Korea) and then chart a course so we exceed our current performance.”

The next major tournament for Gilas Pilipinas is not easy.

Up next is the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China, which serves as the regional qualifier for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Only the champion in that tourney makes the next Olympiad.