Myanmar sees only positives in 107-point loss to Gilias

MANILA, Philippines — Despite the 107-point blowout by the Philippine Men’s National Team on hapless Myanmar, the Burmese remained buoyant.

They broke from their locker room huddle with a loud cheer. There were smiles and they even talked about the shots they made – tough ones because many of them missed badly or were blocked. The steal on Philippine point guard Jayson Castro, the best point guard in Asia, by Set Thu Tun Tun for their first two points, at 17-2, was a small victory.

The Burmese also talked about seeing Andray Blatche.

“He’s a NBA player,” said Myanmar head coach Ten Kok Heng in his limited English.

“We didn’t expect to do much,” he added. “We’re a small team. But this will be a learning experience for us.”

The coach also noted that it was conversely the same for the Philippines’ football team that used to be minnows in Southeast Asian football but have turned it around in the last eight years.

“Maybe one day we can play better,” Heng struggled for the right words. “Compete. Yes, compete.”

His team was held to 40 points. But he looked for the small victories. A block on the Philippines’ Japeth Aguilar (who came back for a reverse dunk).

“And our points from turnovers,” Heng laughed. Myanmar managed only four to the Philippines’ 54 points. “We will learn.”

The Burmese haven’t lost their sense of humor. And they did leave the Smart Araneta Coliseum with their heads held up high and smiles on their faces.

“Our biggest crowd ever,” left Heng.