Two days short of nine years since the Philippines saved its best for last in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2014 in Seville, Spain, the present-day Nationals produced a similarly exhilarating final day moment Saturday, September 2, for jubilant Filipino fans to long remember.
After four straight losses in the Group Phase, Gilas Pilipinas delivered an exclamation point at the close of a World Cup campaign laden with questions, overwhelming traditional Asian powerhouse China, 96-75, at the historic Smart Araneta Coliseum.
The triumph was fashioned in the wake of heartbreaking losses to Dominican Republic, Angola, and Italy in group play, and to South Sudan in the first of two classification matches; lifting the crushing burden of a winless stint and averting a replication of the forgettable finish in the 2019 edition in China.
It may have also restored some faith in the national team, which became the object of public ridicule as a result of its struggles and failure to advance to the second round or secure a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, who found himself in the middle of a blistering social media storm, took the microphone during the post-game press conference to indicate that he may be stepping down after the World Cup.
Reyes didn’t use the word “resign,” but he did say he was “stepping aside.”
“No, I haven’t heard anything from management. It is my decision. Like everybody knows, I didn’t apply for this job. I didn’t volunteer. I was given this mandate,” Reyes said.
“I already retired from coaching the national team and through all these times, I always said to judge us on our performance in the World Cup regardless of what happened between the time I was appointed and today.
“I said judge us by our performance. Obviously, we did not perform. We didn’t perform and like I said in the last game, I take full accountability, and because of that, I think it is time for me to step aside.
“I hate using the word ‘resign’ because I’m not a quitter. I would just like to emphasize that to everyone who is asking for that. But, at the same time, I signed up to do a job and I did not deliver the result, so I think it’s time to step aside, and allow the SBP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas) to make a decision for the good of the team and the program.”
The 32nd Asian Games in Hangzhou, China is three weeks away and Reyes departing the national team at this juncture would leave the SBP scrambling in search of a new Gilas Pilipinas head coach.
For now, however, the Nationals have found themselves freed from anguish as they shared hugs inside the locker room, signed jerseys and balls, and doused themselves with celebratory champagne.
Both SBP president Al Panlilio and vice president Ricky Vargas glowingly spoke of their gratitude to the coaches and players, hailing their victory as a “gift to the Filipino people, whose support never wavered throughout the World Cup.”
SBP executive director Sonny Barrios bared that the two federation executives had urged the Nationals before the game “to give everything they’ve got and to dig deep for the sake of the fans in the Big Dome who braved the inclement weather to cheer for them.”
They were also advised “to have fun,” said Barrios.
Reyes confirmed that the pressure to perform and the accompanying expectation weighed heavily on the team from the start.
“Iba talaga, ang bigat e” he said. “Noong na-lift yung expectation, lumabas yung laro. Unfortunately, the results didn’t come out as we expected. But to end with a win, there’s no greater feeling.”
Reyes, along with June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar, remnants of the Gilas Pilipinas team in Seville, savored the feeling on September 4 nine years ago after the Nationals defeated Senegal 81-79 in overtime in the last game of their participation. It was also the Philippines’ first World Cup win in 40 years.
Under the glow of that historic moment, Jordan Clarkson erupted for 34 points – 24 of which he unloaded in the third quarter, including a stretch where he drilled four straight triples, as the Nationals pulled away from a tight back-and-forth affair.
Down by two, 46-48, early in the third frame, Gilas Pilipinas unleashed a scorching 27-2 run to take full control of the contest and establish a 73-50 lead the Nationals never relinquished until the final buzzer.
“It feels good. It’s been a tough tournament, but we kept fighting, kept competing, kept playing,” said Clarkson. “I really wanted to end this on the right note. We might not see the same guys in the locker room after this, but at the same time, we just wanted to show heart, fight, and resilience.”
Unlike in the first four games, it was not Clarkson who China needed to stop as the 11,080 crowd came alive and erupted in a frenzy at every defensive stop AJ Edu, June Mar Fajardo, and fan favorite Rhenz Abando pulled off to fuel the run.
Abando went on to finish with 14 points, while Kai Sotto chipped in 12 points, and birthday boy Dwight Ramos added 11. Edu only finished with five points, but focused all of his energy on the defensive end, collecting 10 boards and a block.
More importantly, Gilas Pilipinas also kept its bid alive for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, as it finished as the third-best Asian team in the global showpiece.
Li Kaier (Kyle Anderson) paced China with 17 points, nine rebounds, and five assists while Zhang Zhenlin added 13, as the Chinese badly missed the services of 7-foot-1 center Zhou Qi who exited the ball game in the second frame.