When China refuses to shake hands
SBP deputy executive director for international affairs Butch Antonio, who accompanied Gilas to Tehran for the recent FIBA Asia Challenge, said he was called aside by FIBA officials during the tournament. “They told me our team was good, even if the results didn’t show it but they saw the embodiment of
puso which was evident,” he said. “Our guys played their hearts out. It was something we can build on for the future.”
In the game against China which Gilas lost, 75-65, Antonio said the Filipinos pushed the Chinese to the limit. “They didn’t shake our hands after,” he said. “I don’t think they expected that kind of fight. We brought the game to them. What we liked about our team was the guys followed the gameplan to the letter like diligent students. Of course, they made mistakes but we put in the effort particularly on defense where you never have a day off. Our guys were scrappy and forced turnovers. We couldn’t make shots consistently, maybe because we were too eager or some of us were new to this level. But no excuses. We didn’t get the results we wanted. We’ll be better next time.”
Gilas wound up ninth in the competition, outranking only Qatar, Kazakhstan and Thailand. The Philippines’ only win was a 98-86 decision over Kazakhstan. The losses were to India, 91-83, Chinese-Taipei, 87-76, China and Jordan, 119-105.
**** Antonio said last Sept 18, the Gilas team met with chief backer Manny V. Pangilinan and SBP officials for merienda at SBP president Al Panlilio’s home in Alabang. “MVP gave words of encouragement,” he said. “He watched the games on TV and was regularly updated with the goings-on in Tehran. He’s hopeful. MVP knows our team was made up of young players and the exposure to the highest level of Asian competition will go a long way. Some players had never been exposed to this level of competition, some only up to the Southeast Asian Games level and some to the Asian level. They were in Tehran to improve and I think they did a good job.”
A grizzled basketball expert said there was a big difference in the way Gilas battled in Tehran under coach Josh Reyes and how the national team played at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila under coach Tab Baldwin. “For some reason, Gilas played with a lot more heart in Tehran,” he said. “It was that way when Gilas played at the FIBA World Cup in Spain. Gilas won only one game in Tehran and also one game in Spain. Yet, the effort was 100 percent and something to be proud of. At the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the players weren’t as intense or enthusiastic and the fans noticed it. Could it be that coach Tab was trying to introduce a new vibe that isn’t quite Filipino? Remember that coach Tab left out Calvin Abueva and L. A. Tenorio from the lineup, bringing in Bobby Ray Parks and Ryan Reyes instead.”
Panlilio recently said the SBP is lining up candidates for Gilas head coach with Baldwin still an option. Once the details of Gilas’ participation in the PBA draft on Oct. 30 are ironed out, the next step will be to name the national coach. If the SBP and PBA agree to form a national pool of 24, the Gilas coach will then name the players to comprise the cast.
**** In the Pinoy Pride 38 card at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, last Saturday, unbeaten Mark (Magnifico) Magsayo decked hapless Mexican opponent Ramiro Robles twice on the way to scoring a win on points to retain his WBO International featherweight crown.
Magsayo’s style is reminiscent of former world contender Rey (Boom Boom) Bautista’s. He flails away with both fists and couldn’t care less if he gets hit in the process. His offense is his defense. His punches are thrown from wide angles, leaving himself open to counters down the middle. If ever he comes across someone like Daniel Ponce de Leon who poleaxed Bautista in a single round, Magsayo might suffer the same fate. It’s not too late to repair the kinks. Magsayo has to tighten up his defense, shorten his punches, unleash more combinations and firm up his footwork. A fighter with quality superior to Robles’ would’ve given Magsayo problems.
What stole the show, as promoter Michael Aldeguer predicted, was the rematch between Arthur Villanueva and Mexico’s Juan Jimenez. Last May, the fighters traded knockdowns then in the fourth round, Jimenez was badly dazed and counted out from what looked like a headbutt. This time, King Arthur made sure the outcome was decisive. He cracked a vicious right hook to the face and Jimenez collapsed in a heap. He fell on his stomach then turned to lie prostrate on the canvas. Referee Jerry Cantu didn’t bother to count and ruled a second round knockout.
Two Fil-Ams in the undercard weren’t as lucky. Joel Siapno, whose parents are from Pangasinan, was stopped by Isaac Freeman in the fourth round of a superwelterweight bout while Ben Garcia was outpointed by Latone Woodbury in a four-round superlightweight contest. It was another successful venture by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN, a testament to the ability of the Filipino to mount a major boxing event on foreign soil.