Duterte sparks Gilas, crowd

MANILA, Philippines – The President came – as promised.

Just moments before tip-off, President Duterte walked into the Mall of Asia Arena last night, amid loud cheers from the jampacked crowd, to give the Gilas players the extra push.

The crowd chanted “Du-ter-te! Du-ter-te!” as the newly elected President walked by, surrounded by security personnel. He stepped onto the court to do the ceremonial toss.

For a while, the President stopped and paused, and bowed to the crowd, twice. Then at centercourt, he faced his countrymen, smiled at them, and raised his right fist.

Duterte shook hands with the referee, who handed the Chief Executive the ball. As he waited for the players to join him, he dribbled the ball a couple of times.

The President tossed the ball, between two giants, and backed off the moment the ball left his hands.

The game got going, and Duterte, in brown long-sleeved polo shirt and jeans, took his seat.

Duterte was joined by his chief assistant, Bong Go, Hans Sy of the SM Group, Manny V. Pangilinan of PLDT/Smart and Philippine Sports Commission chairman William “Butch” Ramirez.

Andre Blatche opened up the game with an unmolested dunk off a France turnover, and the crowd went wild.

Gilas caught the French off-guard and raced to an early lead. Blatche hit his second three-pointer of the night and gave Gilas a 17-10 lead.

Then Terrence Romeo broke loose for a layup, and Gilas enjoyed a 10-point lead, 28-18, over the tournament favorites ranked No. 5 in the world.

Duterte smiled from his ringside seat.

The French were fried in the opening quarter, 30-22.

In the second period, the reigning European champions started to settle down, and with a minute remaining in the first half tied the game at 41-41 on Boris Diaw’s free throw.