Revenge is sweet but redemption is even sweeter. Revenge connotes a harsh hateful retribution borne out of an inflicted intense pain experienced in the past whereas, redemption permeates an aura of overcoming obstacles encountered in pursuit of a spiritual-like salvation for the fall from grace of days of yore gone by. What am I talking about?
For the past week, basketball-crazy Filipinos from all walks of life collectively held their breaths as Gilas ventured to the Middle East to seek redemption for what were pitiful performances the Chot Reyes-coached five has been exhibiting of late in the FIBA Asia Cup and the fourth window of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers in contrast to what was superbly displayed by Tab Baldwin's youthful Ateneo-laced Gilas line-up.
Remember the back-to-back wins of Gilas against our perennial Asian nemesis, South Korea, during the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup held in our own backyard in Angeles at the height of Covid highlighted by SJ Belangel's last second banked triple avenging finally a winless drought since 2013? Wasn't that a sweet redemption?
Unfortunately, that sweet smell of success didn't last long because, in 2022, the basketball gods dealt some cards that haven't quite gone our way. For starters, despite the terrific coaching prowess displayed by Tab Baldwin in 2021, the top honchos of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas decided to give Tab the boot and installed Chot Reyes in his stead.
Gaining a backdoor entry to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade shortly after the twin victories over South Korea by New Zealand's withdrawal due to Covid concerns, the resurrected Chot declared that the Olympic qualifiers would be an uphill battle since Gilas would be up against powerhouses Serbia and Dominican Republic but would be a great growing experience for our youthful cagers. True enough, as expected, Gilas lost but Chot still glowingly proclaimed that despite the losses there were a lot of positive takeaways in preparation for the FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA World Cup Qualifiers in Jakarta.
Unfortunately, sans Tab, and now under Chot's tutelage, Gilas' game didn't quite sync as smoothly as expected in the FIBA Asia Cup, losing in successive fashion, by wide margins to New Zealand and Lebanon in the group stage, and Japan, for the first time since 2003, in the crucial playoff match. We finished 9th in the FIBA Asia Cup and, for the first time in 15 years, missed the quarterfinals. In the FIBA World Qualifiers, alas, it proved to be as bitter as the FIBA Asia Cup debacle as Gilas lost anew to New Zealand and Lebanon. The dismal performance of Gilas in these two events relegated the Philippines to 41 in the world ranking, a drop of 8 levels from our previous ranking of 33. Another bitter pill to swallow for the millions of Gilas fans with redemption nowhere in sight.
Bright lights finally shone on Gilas last week during the FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers. And no, I am not referring to the desert sun. A boost of energy, shooting prowess, and, for the first time, a tall and imposing shaded lane operators turbocharged a tweaked Gilas line-up of PBA stars namely erstwhile MVP and Ginebra crowd darling Scottie Thompson, fleet-footed future MVP, CJ Perez, veteran forward cum centers Japeth Aguilar and Poy Erram, gunner Roger Pogoy, and high flying rising star Jamie Malonzo combined with Japan B-League starts Ray Parks and Dwight Ramos, youngsters Calvin Oftana, Kevin Quiambao, and centers Kai Sotto and Ange Kuoame. This line-up finally synced with Chot's plays as Gilas magnificently outplayed Jordan and Saudi Arabia in their own home courts.
Has Chot finally found the right formula that will bring the Philippines to basketball nirvana and the redemption of Gilas to the delight of millions of adoring Filipinos?
Until next week… OBF!!!
For comments, email bing_matoto@yahoo.com.
