WHEN people talk about Gilas Pilipinas’ gold medal run at the recently concluded 19th Asian Games, athletes like Justin Brownlee and interim coach Tim Cone come to mind.
However, the Philippine Basketball Association would like to acknowledge Ramon S. Ang and Manny V. Pangilinan, two corporate titans who have competed against each other in the PBA but have supported Gilas since the beginning.
Ang, president and CEO of San Miguel Corp., teamed up with Pangilinan to help the Gilas squad, who had been deliberating who would take over as coach after Chot Reyes chose to step down after the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
On Monday, October 9, the PBA held a press conference to celebrate Gilas’ gold medal win over Jordan. Present were Gilas Pilipinas team manager and San Miguel sports director Alfrancis Chua, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, and PBA vice chairman Bobby Rosales.
The four senior officials highlighted some of the most difficult challenges that the squad faced to win the gold medal. Fortunately, they received the necessary backing from the big bosses.
“Can you imagine these two gentlemen getting together? The future of Philippine basketball is good,” Vargas said.
Chua, Gilas team manager for the Asian Games, said that without Ang and Pangilinan’s help, winning gold was impossible.
“Kung walang suporta ni Boss RSA, atsaka ni MVP, patay kami,” he went on to say. “They’re the ones giving us the power, the will to work hard, because alam namin ‘yung dalawang mabigat nasa likod namin eh.”
Patriotism
Rosales said he realized that patriotism is still alive in terms of representing the country in an international competition such as the Asian Games.
“You know I also found out in this campaign, patriotism is alive in this country. Wala kang masasabi sa mga players na ito, walang hiningi nung tinawagan ni Alfrancis,” he said
Chua said the players never requested anything in return for their services.
“Iyong sinasabi ni Vice Chairman na kapag gusto naming kunin ‘yung iba, ang unang tanong sa amin magkano,” Chua said.
“Kaya sabi ko, ‘wag na, hindi na natin kailangan ‘yan. We’re just gonna play. That’s why we’re so proud of these players. Even Brownlee, even [Ange] Kouame, wala silang hiningi. They just want to win,” he continued.
The officials were in awe as they witnessed firsthand how committed this exceptional group was to representing and restoring respect for the Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Basketball Team.
The players are currently on leave from the national squad duties. Gilas Pilipinas will return to action in 2024 for the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers and the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.
Chua believes that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas should begin planning now.
“Actually nandun palang kami I’m telling them ‘You have to plan it now.’ ‘Yung celebration tapos na ‘yun eh, nakuha na natin ‘yung ginto eh. We have to plan sa kung ano mang dadating,’’ he said.
“Hindi biro eh, kailangan planuhin nila ‘yun.”
Look who’s back
Now that the Asian Games are over, the PBA is gearing up for its 48th season, set to begin on November 5, after one of its longest pauses, second only to the pandemic break.
Meanwhile, LA Tenorio declared his cancer-free status late in September. The renowned point guard revealed in an Instagram story yesterday that he is on his way back to the Barangay Ginebra team.
Photo Courtesy: LA Tenorio | @la_tenorio
It can be remembered that Tenorio revealed on the PBA website on March 21 that he had been diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
It will be great to see the Barangay Ginebra’s floor general gently making his way back to the hard court after serving as an assistant coach for his ball club and the Gilas Pilipinas.
