MANILA, Philippines - The country's national basketball team ended up short in their final match during the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships in front of over 19,000 Filipino fans that included no less than President Benigno Aquino III.
Aquino jokingly said that he is now being blamed for the loss of Gilas after watching the game live last night at the Mall of Asia Arena.
"Last night when I was encouraged to attend the basketball game, either Chief-booster and Lucky Charm, and since we didn’t win, perhaps now I am being blamed for our loss last night," Aquino said in his speech at the Brother Industries, Inc. factory inauguration ceremony.
On Sunday, Gilas Pilipinas bowed to the tall Iranian squad, 85-71, ending the country's gold medal dream in the tournament.
Gilas settled with the silver medal but accomplished its main objective of punching a ticket to the 2014 FIBA World Championships in Spain.
In an earlier statement, Malacañang praised the Gilas boys for playing with a lot of heart, especially during the knock-out semi-finals game against long-time rival South Korea.
Without the services of injured naturalized center Marcus Douthit, the locals, particularly forward Marc Pingris, came up big despite being physically outsized by their Korean counterparts.
Related story: 'Gilas Pilipinas showed the Filipino heart can't be outsized'
Vice President Jejomar Binay also watched the game live and said the Gilas victory "makes us proud to be Filipinos.â€
He said the national team’s performance showed the world that the Philippines has the "skills, audacity, and heart to succeed."
“Naipakita natin sa buong mundo na tayo'y may galing, may gilas at may puso. Ipagmalaki natin na tayo'y mga Pilipino,†Binay said.