India pinaglaruan ng SMC-Pilipinas

TOKUSHIMA, Japan --Kaarawan kahapon ni coach Chot Reyes.Gusto niya sanang ipagdiwang ang kanyang ika-44 kaa-rawan ngunit hindi niya maiwasang makaram-dam ng kalungkutan.

Nakapagpangiti kay Reyes ang malaking ta-gumpay ng San Miguel-Pilipinas kontra sa India na pinagpraktisan lamang nila sa 104-69 panalo sa Tokushima Municipal Gym sa pagpapatuloy ng kanilang kampanya sa classification round ng FIBA-Asia Men’s Basketball championships.

“This is my saddest birthday ever,” wika ni Reyes sa mga media na-bumati sa kanya sa post game interview.

Marami siyang ‘wish’ sa kanyang kaarawan na lahat ay puro sa nabigong misyon ng Nationals na makarating sa Beijing Olympics.

“I wish we didn’t have that Greek referee,” pagbibiro ni Reyes. “Well, maybe my first wish is I wish we weren’t in Group A. Seriously, it’s been very, very hard. But looking at the bright things, we have to count our blessings. I’m here with my players. My family’s okay. I have great kids. I have great friends. Who are we to complain? We’re sad, we’re disappointed, we’re very hurt. But life goes on.” But seriously, my wish is the program is not a one-shot deal. I’m not saying I wish it to be me. All I’m saying is for the program to go on and honestly for the Philippines to regain its foothold in Asian basketball.”

Lumaban ang RP team na wala sina Kelly Williams (hamstring), Mark Caguioa (hyperextended shoulder) at Jimmy Alapag na siyang bumuhat sa RP team ng ilang games, na nagka-roon ng stiff neck.