CHANGSHA – For all his wards’ hard work and effort, Gilas Pilipinas coach Tab Baldwin said he just wouldn’t let anyone insult them.
“This is a team that has been unfairly criticized even before it could even play in a game,” said Baldwin, the more reason why he highlighted the statement by Lebanon coach Vesilin Matic on the eve of the Gilas-Lebanon match.
“No Iran, now Philippines. We can play Philippines, easy, easy,” Matic told The STAR.
In the pre-game huddle, Baldwin wrote on the board Matic’s statement. The Nationals took it to heart and made the Serbian coach eat his words.
But Baldwin felt his players overreacted.
“I’m particularly not happy with our performance. There was a lot of effort that went in, but it’s like somebody who goes out to the dance floor and just shakes himself around,” said the Gilas mentor.
“They did a lot of moving but you know it’s not really a dance. And that’s the way it felt for me,” he added. “Perhaps, it was the emotion. Comments were made and the players did take it to heart.”
Andray Blatche and Calvin Abueva were the most emotional, both hollering “easy, easy, easy” as Gilas was wrapping up the all-important win.
“We worked hard to get where we are at. We didn’t plain say it’s going to be easy. So for a coach to say playing us is going to be plain easy is a big sign of disrespect,” said Blatche.
“We’re all fired up by (Matic’s) statement. As for me, I really became a lot more determined to come out and battle. I was completely focused on the game,” said Abueva.
“And, of course, it was so sweet to beat the coach and his team,” Abueva also said.