Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Gilas had got nothing to hide or give


PhilBoxing.com




THE defeat was hard to take, especially after what had been glowingly said about the Gilas Pilipinas team?s secluded build-up camp that closed in Cebu on Sunday.

The fall of the national basketball squad against Fiba Asia tournament first-timer Palestine was not a simple shocker.
It was an all-revealing setback that has made fans and experts alike wonder what exactly took place behind closed doors during the well-publicised seclusion.

There was dismay, if not outright disenchantment.

**

For example, what gave Gilas coach Tad Baldwin the gall to state after the mysterious cramming sessions that they would next be out to take control and be dominant in the continental Olympic qualifying tournament that started in Changsha, China yesterday.
For the record, Baldwin had himself openly admitted that his team was not yet ready for the Olympic qualifying test by the end of the four-team MVP Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Sept 13.

In fact, in the national team?s match against the Wellington Saints on Sept. 12, Gilas was a distressed outfit. It was being outjumped, outhuslted, outshot for over three quarters, until peppery Terence Romeo scored four unplanned three-point baskets at crunch time.

**

Gilas? naturalized center Andray Blatche, by the way, was anomalously overweight during the MVP Cup, a sorry state of health that led certain pundits to comment the NBA veteran appeared as though he was on the family way.

However everybody, from the team?s chief patron and supporter Manny V. Pangilinan, down to school and street kids who thrilled to the Gilas team victories in the MVP Cup, went with Baldwin once he emerged with his team from the Cebu camp and declared they won?t let the country down.

Now, it?s time to ask: What did Baldwin lend to or inflict on his team, listed as oldest outfit in the China tournament, that had led him to allege the national squad had instantly become superfit.

**

Meanwhile, great expectations would be further fueled with the announcement by Baldwin that Blatche, who did great sacrifices by training doubly hard and going on a soup-and-vegetable diet in Cebu, would be ready to lead the Gilas national team in the Fiba Asia war.

With the reported return to great form by Blatche, there were even suggestions the celebrated Gilas reinforcement should take care not to flash his full worth in the preliminary round of the Fiba Asia tournament. He must take care not to show all his skills and strength.

It was indeed a thrill how Blatche, handsome and trim, soared, scored and dominated in the first quarter of the game against a Palestine team, which showed up with a limited bench.

**

A magnificent first quarter which saw coah Baldwin gleefully rotating his men gave Gilas an early 16-point lead.

It was starting to appear very much like a mere tune-up.
But Palestine held on gallantly. The Fiba league first-timer refused to be rushed. It tried to stand its ground. It countered quietly, while a fast-tiring Gilas outfit, that was supposed to hold its punches , faltered and failed even as it gave its huffing-puffing best in the clutches.

Sorry, but in that fall against Palestine , Gilas, soft and shallow, had got nothing real to hide or give.


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Recah Trinidad.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • MARIO BARRIOS LAS VEGAS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • CATTERALL AND EUBANK LAY THEIR 'CARDS ON THE TABLE' AHEAD OF MANCHESTER SHOWDOWN
    , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Dumadag holds chess tourney
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • Manny Pacquiao's Case for the Greatest of All Time
    By Ace Freeman, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • DavNor Adventure Race 2025 set July 2
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Gumila rules Antipolo rapid chess tilt
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • FULL CIRCLE AT WILD CARD: Jhay Otamias’ Tribute to a Fighter and a Fanbase
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Wins by 4th Round KO Over Sarawut Thawornkham to Capture the IBF Pan Pacific Super Flyweight Title
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Team USA's Quest for Gold Set in Stone at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • SBA SEASON 2 DRAFT UNVEILS RISING STARS AND STRATEGIC MOVES AS TEAMS COMPLETE THEIR ROSTERS
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Filipino Elwin Retanal wins Saudi rapid chess meet
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Mon, 30 Jun 2025
  • Jake Paul Earns Boxing Legitimacy with Dominant Decision Over Julio Cesar Chávez Jr.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Zurdo Ramirez Defends Cruiserweight Crowns with Unanimous Decision Over Dorticos
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Vince Paras Faces Sarawut Thawornkham Today at Venue 88 in Gensan
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • USA Elite High Performance Team Sets Sights on Gold at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri bags silver in blitz
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 29 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chavez Jr: Can Julio Derail Jake Paul?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Dr. KO: Christian Mbilli Stops Maciej Sulecki in 1
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • GOLDEN BOY SIGNS UNDEFEATED MIDDLEWEIGHT BLUE-CHIP PROSPECT AMARI JONES
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Paul vs. Chávez Jr. is a Go: All Fighters Make Weight in Anaheim Ahead of High-Stakes Bout
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • IIEE Chessmasters Overall Champion in the International Bundesliga with GM Joey Antonio
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Kittipong of Thailand Battles Bhavesh of India in Brico Santig's Exciting Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Weights from Philadelphia
    , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Alekhine Nouri and John Jerish Velarde struck gold and bronze
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 28 Jun 2025
  • Would OKC Still Win the West If Dallas Had Not Traded Doncic?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 27 Jun 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.