FOSHAN, China – The odds may look insurmountable but Mark Barroca is relishing on the second chance of fulfilling the nation’s Olympic dream as Gilas Pilipinas began its FIBA World Cup campaign Saturday in this city.
Harrowing memories of the 2011 FIBA Asia Championship in Wuhan remain fresh for Barroca, who was part of the original Gilas squad that fell short of securing qualification to the London Olympics.
The Rajko Toroman-mentored squad made a serious threat of winning the Asian Championship, having entered the semifinal round as favorites to beat a Jordan that Gilas beat in the preliminaries.
But Jordan, then-coached by Tab Baldwin and had toppled two-time champion Iran in the quarterfinals, stunned Gilas with a 75-61 victory.
The Arab nation nearly took the Olympic slot, losing by a hairline to host China in the final, 70-69.
“Sobrang frustrated namin nun kasi kaya namin pumunta sa finals nun, pero natalo kami sa Jordan,” Barroca said.
“Sobrang sakit sa amin kasi yung Jordan nung time na yun kayang-kanya namin tapos dun pa talaga kami natalo. Buong liga yung Jordan di nanalo sa amin yun,” he added, perhaps noting how Gilas beat Jordan multiple times before the FIBA Asia tilt.
Gilas, reinforced by naturalized player Marcus Douthit and PBA players Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel de Ocampo, Asi Taulava and Kelly Williams, even beat Jordan, 72-64, in the second round.
“Sobrang galing talaga ni coach Tab nung na yun na nakapagadjust siya, na-scout kami ng maayos. Kami parang nagce-celebrate na nun nung tinalo nila yung Iran. E yun talo kami. Sobrang disappointed namin,” Barroca recalled.
Barroca’s chances at making to next year’s Olympics in Tokyo will be more difficult than in 2011. Gilas needs to finish as the highest-ranked Asian team by virtue of at least making the second round.
Winning over Italy in the Group D opener will be crucial in that bid. The next two games are against World Cup contender Serbia and Angola.
“Kung manalo tayo ng dalawa – sa awa ng Diyos – manalo tayo at tayo yung maging No. 1 sa Asia, diretso tayo qualify sa Olympics diba. Hopefully maka-isa pa dun diba,” Barroca said.