Philippines, 22 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Gilas Pilipinas: Rich heart, poor shot


PhilBoxing.com




OUT in the Mandaluyong City wet market on Sunday, tireless sports enthusiast Buboy Sebreros said there was only one way the Philippinnes could beat China: Engage the Asian basketball stalwart in a single-quarter title match.

Why not decide the championship via toss-coin, instead?
The morning was sunny and crisp, but it was not a beautiful Sunday out there in the national sports backyard

**

Even tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan, patron cum laude of the Gilas Pilipinas national basketball squad, didn?t sound too interested in chasing the elusive Olympic slot via the backdoor, which will be opened through extra qualifying tournaments next year.

The Philippines became an automatic invitee to the special qualifying series by virtue of its runner-up finish behind China in the Fiba Asia championship that came to a close in Changsha, China Saturday night.

The whole of China, feeling mighty rich and proud, whooped it up after a hard-earned 78-67 victory over the Philippines before a terribly emotional home crowd. It marked China?s return to the Asian basketball throne, which it first took in the 1975 Asian Basketbal Confederation championship in Bangkok, Thailand.

**

Benefactor MVP, with bottomless rich support for sports, must? ve felt very poor after the Gilas national squad failed in what he called ?the greatest fight of our life.?

Did they come to the wrong place at the wrong time?

Far from that. The crown had indeedl seemed within reach after the sweet Philippine conquest of defending Asian champion Iran on Friday.

**

Despite the assorted glitches, the cramming, the nightmare loss to Palestine, things were starting to go right.

It was just too bad that Gilas Pilipinas showed up with its worst shooting form on championship night. It could make only 25 per cent of its outside shots.

There were biased calls, non-calls. But Gilas, which led 15-10 after four minutes, started to lose grip once China spread out a tall and solid man-zone fence. All at once, the basket loomed a lot farther out for the shorter Filipinos.

Gilas started strong, fought hard. But it inevitably fell to ferocious towering defense, which shoved the national squad into a low-percentage groove.

The most dreadful point came when Gilas, shaky from the foul line, flubbed basket after basket in the crucial final quarter.

**

It was Maundy Sunday in the hearts of Filipino fans.

Coach Tad Baldwin would meekly admit they had the opportunity, but they failed to measure up.

Baldwin said the Gilas team deserved all the respect and admiration from a country it had served with dignity and pride.

**

No giving up, don?t lose hope, Pangilinan said. The loss to China should not be taken as a complete setback.

?We should look at the positive aspects of the program and things that need to be improved,? Pangilinan said.

Instead of try the backdoor, Pangilinan said it?s time to ?prepare forward.?

He pointed to China which started a massive rebuilding two years ago, after it failed to make the quarterfinals of the Fiba Asia championship in Manila.


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


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Oscar Collazo Defeats Jayson Vayson in Controversial 7th-Round Stoppage
    By Dong Secuya, , Sun, 21 Sep 2025
  • PUERTO RICO’S OSCAR COLLAZO SHINES IN INDIO WITH SEVENTH-ROUND TKO TO REMAIN UNDEFEATED AND UNIFIED MINIMUMWEIGHT CHAMPION
    , Sun, 21 Sep 2025
  • Jayson Vayson and Oscar Collazo Make Weight, Ready for Unified World Title Showdown Today on DAZN
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • PeeWee, Bantam and Intermediate Champions Crowned on Day Five of USA Boxing National Open
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Quezon City chess wonder makes a big push for glory sweeps FIDE-rated rapid chess tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • WEIGHTS FROM INDIO, CA: COLLAZO -104.6 LBS., VAYSON - 104.4 LBS.
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Japanese World Champions Down to Four
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • The Night Boxing Reached for Its Crown
    By Mark F. Villanueva, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • WATCH BOXING INSIDER PROMOTIONS CARD ON YOUTUBE AT 7:00 PM ET
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • "Legacy Night" Official weights from El Salvador
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Brian Mendoza Calls Out Sebastian Fundora in Explosive Appearance on “Drew & Pris Uncensored” Podcast
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • With Support from GAB and Topnotch Team, Jayson Vayson Battles for Glory (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Weights from New York City
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Sampaguita Stakes Race to Crown Top Filly in Highly Anticipated 2025 Showdown
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • USA Boxing National Open Preliminary Rounds Finalized on Thursday
    , Sat, 20 Sep 2025
  • Jayson Vayson and Oscar Collazo Face Off at Press Conference (PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • LIMA: WHEN I FINISH WITH BOOTS, PEOPLE WILL KNOW ME
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Bangon, Kabayan: Pistahan sa Fulton
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • It’s a Wrap - Nearly 4,000 Fans Attend 2025 Box Fan Expo in Las Vegas, Featuring Boxing Legends, Current Stars and Rising Amateur Talent at the Ultimate Boxing Fan Experience
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Split-T Management Signs U.S. National Champion Obed Bartee-El
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: A wonderful spectacle in Las Vegas
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • TRAINER OF THE YEAR BOB SANTOS TO MAKE BROADCASTING DEBUT AT BOXLAB PROMOTIONS' “NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS” ON SEPTEMBER 19
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • Five Boxers Closed Fights Early via RSC During Wednesday’s Competition
    , Fri, 19 Sep 2025
  • “Thrilla” card takes shape
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 18 Sep 2025
  • Wishing Best to Jayson Vayson in his World Title Challenge!
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 18 Sep 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.