FORGIVE AND FORGET

Some of the fans in Australia think that one incident defines what Filipino basketball is. No, it’s not

The healing process begins as Gilas Pilipinas takes on Australian club Adelaide 36ers in the first of the two tune-up games today at the Meralco gym.

Trying to bury the ghost of the infamous brawl last year at the Philippine Arena, the Philippine quintet and the four-time National Basketball League (NBL) champions face off at 6 in the evening in a closed-door game.

Both clubs are using the pair of scrimmages as part of their preparations in their respective tournaments as the Nationals are warming up for the FIBA Basketball World Cup later this month in China while the 36ers are getting ready for the new NBL season this October.

The visiting team will be mentored by Joey Wright, the former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) import who has nothing but praises for the Filipinos when he suited up for Presto in 1992.

“I’m really always excited about coming back here,” said Wright, whose team is also scheduled to meet Utah Jazz on 5 October in another tune-up match at Salt Lake City.

“The Filipinos have been playing great basketball, high passionate basketball, and I didn’t want one incident to be held in their head,” he added.

A fight erupted during a World Cup qualifying game at the in Philippine Arena that resulted to 13 ejections and multiple suspensions of the players involved. Ten Gilas players were sanctioned by FIBA in that melee.

And according to Wright, that incident left a bad impression to the Australians back home.

“Some of the fans in Australia think that one incident defines what Filipino basketball is. No, it’s not,” Wright said.

They play quality basketball, world-class basketball. This will be a big help to our preparations.

“We wanted to come back here and play and show people that it was just once incident and we can come back here and play and we have been treated exceptionally,” he added.

Before agreeing to come here, the Adelaide 36ers management requested the games would be closed door for security reasons.

And the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas agreed to the condition as Gilas Pilipinas is longing for competitive tune-up matches with a little over a week left before the World Cup kicks off.

“We anticipates good game against the Adelaide 36ers. They play quality basketball, world-class basketball. This will be a big help to our preparations,” Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao said.

“We want to erase the memories of the past and replace them with good memories. Renew our friendship and goodwill with Australian basketball,” he added.

The Philippines will be bannered by naturalized player Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, RR Pogoy, Troy Rosario and Gabe Norwood, who were part of the Gilas team on the night the melee broke out.

Matthew Wright’s status for the Adelaide friendlies is uncertain as the Filipino-Canadian shooter is recuperating from a foot injury.

Both squads will meet again on Sunday and Guiao is expected to reveal his final roster before flying to China next week.