Reality bites
Most Filipino basketball fans had seen the 2019 FIBA World Cup games and had been traumatized on the helplessness of Gilas Pilipinas against Italy (FIBA ranked #13), never mind if Tatay Digong watched the severe mauling with the senator selfie king.
The owner of the universe also was present in that game and some had the wild idea of him flicking one of his universal switches to immobilize the Italians. World number 4 Serbia came next with their murderous demolition. Then we agonized on the OT loss to Angola, ranked 8 notches lower than us at #39.
We’ve read and heard the varying analytics from the real experts and the almost experts. Social media screamed of blames toward the coach and his staff and the off-form naturalized import. I still consider him an import because to the best of my knowledge, he’s residing at the country of his birth, plays for pay in another country and only sets foot in our country for several, several thousand reasons.
I’m now wondering if had we naturalized the other candidate now starting for LA Lakers at center, could we have done a bit better?
Yes, some blame was directed to a few players and one particular team member whom many argued as favored by the coach and ate up the playing time that could have been given to two other less favored teammates. Well, it is what it is.
Even parents have favorite sons or daughters that sometimes could ruin harmony in the family. We learn to live in an unfair orbit.
If it is any consolation, Asian powerhouse and bully China, nemesis Iran and nagging headaches South Korea and Japan also bottomed out in their respective brackets. We are grouped with the Iranians in the classification round to determine the 17th to 32nd place and we will be playing them. There’s still a chance of getting a spot to next year’s Tokyo Olympics or a spot to the Olympic qualifiers.
We need to finish no lower than 24th in this tournament if we aim for the qualifiers. Or be the highest ranked team from Asia for an automatic Olympic dream.
Granting we qualify for the Tokyo Games next year and still employ the same “preparation” coupled with the selfishness of the pro league, di bale nalang. What’s the point? It’s the system and I find no need to elaborate as it speaks for itself.
Mag pakita’ng Gilas ang Pilipinas, ipakita ang Puso. Sorry to say this but for the FIBA World Cup journey, it’s Impas Pilipinas, Pusoy! Reality bites and it hurts.
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