By REYNALD MAGALLON
All that is left is pride and that is all Gilas Pilipinas stands to fight for.
The Nationals hope to salvage a 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup campaign when it takes on Asian rival China for its final game on Saturday, Sept. 2 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum
Out to put the pain and agony of losing their first four games behind, the Nationals take on the hardcourt in their last home stand in the tournament at 8 p.m. against the Team Dragon with a fervent goal of avoiding another winless run.
If that happens, certainly it will calm down the angry fans who are not only after the head of coach Chot Reyes but are also calling for honest-to-goodness revamp of the basketball association.
For them to topple the Chinese, the Filipinos must muster all the strength and courage that is left after seeing its Olympic hopes dash away before their eyes following a disparaging 87-68 loss to South Sudan and the over-performing Japan picking up its second win over at Okinawa.
“(Need) to just remind them what we’re playing for. We’re doing this for the flag and country. We’re doing this as our way to serve the country, the Philippines,” said Reyes.
“Basically to remind them that it’s more than just a ball game or just a win but something larger hopefully, ending on a winning note and hopefully leaving a lasting impression,” he added.
Claiming the scalp of Team Dragon could be the saving grace and redeemer of sorts to Gilas’ campaign.
Gilas has already dropped 9 straight games since the 2019 edition – reason why fans are now exasperated and that some are now calling the attention of several lawmakers to intervene and put order to Philippine basketball.
A win would not only help Gilas avoid suffering the same misery of the 2019 World Cup where it lost all of its five games and finished dead last but also prevent the country from being on the bad end of history as the first host team to come out winless in the World Cup since 1982.
“We’re trying to put everything together for one last push knowing that there’s no bearing except pride, fight for country ,for service which is exactly why we’re here in the first place,” added Reyes.
“No matter how difficult this job is, we’re here, we’re doing it and hopefully we can come in and get to play our best on Saturday,” he added.
Jordan Clarkson has been doing everything humanely possible to help the team chalk up its first win, but even his best – averaging 24 points per contest – was not enough.
Though he’s still licking the wounds of the past heartbreaks, Clarkson of the Utah Jazz in the NBA remained determined to get the elusive win.
Clarkson, however, will need every little help it can get from the rest of the local crew as China, led by naturalized player Kyle Anderson (Li Kaier), is also over the moon after finally breaking through in the World Cup with an 83-76 win over Angola.
