Philippines, 01 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Who cares about the Gilas national team?


PhilBoxing.com




WHEN Carlos Loyzaga injured his left hand playing softball on the side, the greatest Filipino basketball player ever had to be scratched from the Philippine national basketball team preparing for the 1960 Rome Olympics.

There was this little-known story of how Loyzaga had begged national coach Arturo Rius to reconsider and take him back into the national squad.

Loyzaga was said to have knelt before the national coach in tears.

Rius supposedly told the emotionally drained national team mainstay he could be reconsidered once the doctor clears him.
?If the doctor says your left wrist is fine, you can report back for training tomorrow,? Rius reportedly assured Loyzaga.

**

There?s this story of bigman June Mar Fajardo suffering from a bad foot, the reason he had to beg off from the national training pool being prepared by coach Tad Baldwin.

There seemed nothing nasty or suspicious there; although it was suddenly reported the other day Fajardo now suffers from two painful feet.

By the way, after Fajardo, easily the best big man in the national pool, left the squad, three other national team shoo-ins from the powerful San Miguel Corporation outfit pulled one after the other from the Gilas Pilipinas team.

**

As noted here earlier, the separate alibis submitted by Mark Pingris, LA Tenorio and Japeth Aguilar were ?doubtful, abnormal, if not wholly odd.?

In Pingris? case, he did return from Paris where he had a reparation meeting with his French father.

Pingris next made it known he would be ready and available for Gilas Pilipinas, a decision that lent joy to the coach, members and backers of the national squad.

**

Then, in a stunning turn-around, Pingris officially begged off from the national team last Saturday.

Pingris also took time out to swear he had always wanted to serve in the national team, but ?some things are beyond our control.?

There naturally was outrage as the national basketball community was left to wonder what honestly was the matter, and who was to blame for the national team mess.

**

There had been shallow efforts to mask the foulness.

But with the latest developments, there?s no hiding the fact that the national team mess was caused mainly by politics.

Would it have helped if, say, the powerful outfit that had contributed the main stars during the Gilas Pilipinas stint in the Fiba Asia series in Manila and the subsequent World Cup in Spain got deserved mention or a piece of the credit?

The brutal truth may never be told in the open.

But in the case of Fajardo, the lurking treachery did surface ahead after it became clear he was already out of the Gilas national squad even before his alleged injuries could be checked or, hopefully, remedied.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • IIEE Titans secured Finals in BPBL, IIEE Chessmasters retain on top level in Bundesliga
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025
  • 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




  •  



     
    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.