The joke

Our system, our structure — those were the real jokes

BEIJING, China — We can get over Gilas Pilipinas losing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

It’s something that shouldn’t really surprise us given the quality of competition, but I cannot blame and Filipino basketball fans for feeling how bad the team lost.

But before I get to the crux of the column, let me extend my gratitude to the Gilas squad.

They deserved — at the very least — our thanks.

I’m sure that even though they were pumped up and maybe even confident as they entered the World Cup, a small part of their consciousness knew that the odds were heavily stacked against them.

I’m sure they knew that their situation was embarrassingly far from ideal.

I’m sure they knew they would have hell to pay against most of the teams they were going to face in China.

And yet they went, uncertain of success, but certain of hardship.

They faced the odds, no matter how staggering and no matter the portent of gloom.

That sort of sacrifice is akin to a small squad of soldiers charging on despite being outnumbered and outgunned. To hell with victory. Let’s friggin’ go down fighting, for the country, for the people, with honor and glory and all that jazz.

But I’m ashamed of the systems and structures that severely disabled Gilas from showing the entire world the very best Philippine basketball has to offer.

I have written about this in a previous column at the world level when two teams face each other, it’s so much more than talent and tactics that are being measured. It is the culture. It is the system. It is the structure.

And in contrast to the moral victories of our World Cup campaign in 2014, there is hardly any consolation for our players, coaches, and fans in the disaster of this year’s World Cup mission.

We have to come to terms with one basic question: How much do we want to succeed at the international level?

Answering that with the highest level of honesty would lay the groundwork for the rest.

How badly do we want to win the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup title? How about the 2022 Asian Games gold? Or to perform well at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup we will host?

Of course, most fans and officials will say, yes we want to win.

But again, how much do we want to, really? What are we willing to change or leave behind so we can give our national team the highest priority it deserves?

Are we willing to shift all basketball calendars? Are we willing to revise our corporate and sponsorship tie-ups and commitments? Are we willing to shake up the system of Philippine basketball that has, ironically, held it back from being an international power?

I cringed whenever someone here in China claims that we have some of the best fans, but maybe some of those fans would play better than our actual players.

They meant it as a joke, of course, but in reality we were the joke.