Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara (FILE PHOTO)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara on Sunday expressed optimism that the historic victory of the Gilas Pilipinas in the 19th Asian Games would usher in a 鈥渘ew era in Philippine basketball.鈥�
Angara, chair of the (SBP), said the men鈥檚 national basketball team鈥檚 gold medal finish in the Asiad couldn鈥檛 have come at a more opportune time as it happened ahead of the qualifying tournament for the Paris Olympics next year.
鈥淚t will be a huge challenge to clinch a spot in the Olympics. But with the way Gilas has been playing and with the support of the entire nation behind them, nothing is impossible,鈥� Angara said in a statement.
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Led by naturalized American reinforcement , Gilas made all the necessary adjustments to snare the country鈥檚 first basketball gold in 61 years by toppling Jordan, 70-60, on Friday night in Hangzhou, China.
The senator, himself a basketball aficionado, praised the Gilas players for 鈥渄efying the odds鈥� to become the best basketball team in Asia, a performance that practically erased the Nationals鈥� lackluster showing in the Fiba World Cup that the country hosted last month.
鈥淭he odds were against us. Jordan was the favorite to win the finals with the way it ran through its opponents on the road to the finals,鈥� Angara said.
Jordan, bannered by its naturalized American player and Philippine Basketball Association import Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, had won over Gilas, 87-62, during their group stage match.
鈥淏ut the Philippine team never lost its focus and got huge morale boosts with its victories over Asian powerhouses Iran and China,鈥� the SBP chair noted.
鈥淚n the end, Gilas just wanted it more. Everyone on the team stepped up, played hard, and never lost sight of its goal of bringing the Philippines back to the pinnacle of Asian basketball,鈥� Angara said.