In lieu of hardware, here are five priceless lessons that Gilas players, coaching staff, and diehards should take away from the disappointing stint, which may come handy for the FIBA Asia Championship next year:
The responses we got were as phenomenal as the Philippine team’s historic run in making it among basketball’s elite.
We lost sleep. We cursed. We celebrated. Thank you, Gilas Pilipinas.
Modern day heroes, these Gilas players are, spending their days and nights away from their families to bring honor to everyone rooting for them back home.
In day five of training camp, they take a break from all the hard work to be reminded of what all that “PUSO” talk is all about.
Video from interAKTV:
Before it was called the FIBA World Cup, the prestigious global hoops competition was known as the FIBA World Championship. Since its inception in 1950, nations from the Americas and Europe dominated the event. But in 1954, one Asian squad was able to crack the top three.
The long and arduous journey of Gilas Pilipinas begins in Miami, where they will train with naturalized Filipino and free agent center Andray Blatche. Gilas coach Chot Reyes said the first day of training camp “is really just to break a sweat,” which explains the light workout, RDO goofing off, and Marc Pingris—sans intensity—coming in late.
“The guys just arrived last night from a long trip so we basically want them to rest, but we wanted it to be an active rest,” said Reyes.
The FIBA World Cup begins on August 30. Watch this video from interAKTV:
