Gilas looking good - thus far

WHILE we are still euphoric over the back-toback victories on the global stage of world bantamweight champion Jerwin “Professor” Ancajas and flyweight king Donnie “Ahas” Nietes, it can’t be denied that Gilas’ 89-84 win over Japan also gave us a thrill as well.

Not only did Chot Reyes boys’ triumph afforded us some reason to an impromptu chestpounding but also to realize that we could pull it out of the fire when pushed to the limit.

We were behind early by double-digit deadweights. But we were able to stage a comeback— even mightily. Didn’t we break away by 15 points at one time?

We were chased to the showers, yes, but we parried the scare—with finesse and savvy.

Didn’t we waylay Japan with our patented finishing kick, courtesy, again, of Jason Castro?

For, when the enemy came knocking at the door after nearly razing a 15-point deficit to come to within 84-86, Castro drove, contoured his body once more before banking a shot he was so used in accomplishing.

That made it a comfortable 88-84 Gilas lead, time down to 10.6 seconds.

American giant Andray Blatche, the muchmaligned naturalized Filipino, secured Castro’s courageous heroics with a towering rebound, sealing the final 89-84 count with a free throw.

The 7-foot-1 Blatche, a former NBA biggie, was ridiculed for poor performances earlier, with the Gilas-Australia game in Melbourne supposedly exposing his worst game in the Fiba World Cup qualifiers for 2019.

But against Japan, Blatche redeemed himself with a double-double in points made and rebounds hauled.

“No doubt, he’s still my man,” said Reyes of Blatche.

As Blatche lumbered on and appeared more of a liability than an asset in Melbourne, adding to the Gilas’ woes as Castro’s absence on an ankle sprain.

Because we had led Australia by five points at one point, it was generally agreed that we might have upset the Aussie had Castro been healthy.

But Gilas being second at 3-1 behind 4-0 Australia in Group B still had put us in a good position to eventually nail a slot next year.

More games are coming up. The good thing is, Reyes can always make substitutions as we plod on. A format suited to the mood of the times.