MVP rewards Gilas for wins over Iran, Lebanon

CHANGSHA – Members of Gilas Pilipinas got an added boost with cash incentives given by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan for their victories over Iran Monday and versus Lebanon Thursday.

Arriving here on the eve of the Philippines-Lebanon game, Pangilinan had a brief chat with the team before the match.

He doesn’t intend to talk to the team again soon, though.

“Kita mo may rhythm na si coach Tab. Ayaw na namin istorbohin yon. (You’ll see coach Tab Baldwin has got a good rhythm. We don’t want to disrupt that),” Pangilinan told The STAR.

“Ang ginawa namin after the game sa dugout, we congratulated them at nagbigay ng konting bonus. Sa Iran game, sabi ko you deserve something at saka sa victory against Lebanon.”

(What we did after the game in the dugout was to congratulate them and gave them bonus. For the Iran win, I told them ‘you deserve something,’ so do in the win against Lebanon.)

He wanted the players rewarded, knowing they made the whole nation back home very happy.

 “We’re very happy, we’re all happy, the nation is happy,” he said. “But, on the other hand, we’re more nervous now as we’re on the medal round.”