Our Modern Day Heroes: The Philippine National Basketball Team

It was year 1998, I was at 3rd Grade in Saint Jude Catholic School. This was the formative years where kids were asked, "What would you want to be when you grow up?" Most of my classmates answered that they would want to be a doctor while others wanted to be a recording artist or an actor. When I was asked, "Paolo what would you want be when you grow up?" I answered my teacher straight to the eye. "I would want to be a basketball player and play in the PBA." My classmates were surprised why I answered that but at that point I was dreaming of making it big and earning a name for myself. I was watching my idols play in the PBA after I did my assignments and it was all validated when I watched them play in the international stage, the 1998 Asian Games in Bangkok, Thailand where the PBA Centennial team Placed 3rd in the Basketball competition. 

 The PBA Centennial Team bagged the bronze in the 1998 Asian Games

(image by:www.interaksyon.com)

The PBA Centennial Team is a collection of seasoned veterans and a few up and comers led by "The Triggerman" Allan Caidic and "The Captain" Alvin Patrimonio handled by Coach Earl Timothy Cone. Coming off a solid gold medal performance at the Williams Jones Cup, the team had proven it can stand toe to toe with the best of Asia. This was the time China and Korea were still lording over the Asian basketball landscape. The game that time was focused more on individual skills and slowing down the tempo of the game. Flashy scorers like "The Aerial Voyager" Vergel Meneses and "Captain Marbel" Kenneth Duremdes thrived in this system similar to the American style of play. Eventually, China led by future NBA campaigners Wang Zhi Zhi and Mengke Bateer shot down our country's hope of earning a gold medal via a 82-73 win. This would pave the way for a colossal showdown against Korea in the finals. Once again, China proved its dominance against Korea 112-92 and claimed the gold. The Philippines meanwhile had to overcome the resilient Kazakhstan team, 73-68 and earned the bronze medal. 

For an 11 year old, watching how the PBA Centennial team gave me an inspiration to dream big and play professional basketball. I tried to copy their moves at the streets. I used to copy Alvin Patrimonio's free throw shooting stance, to Vergel Meneses' acrobatic high-wire acts and Olsen Racela was my first basketball idol. I wore jersey number 17 during my first taste of organized basketball. They were my modern day heroes and they paved the way for our country to aspire to be the best in Asian Basketball. 

Fast forward to 2015, I'm still playing basketball at a different capacity. The journey has brought me to stops at National University where I played at the Universities Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) season 67 juniors basketball tournament. I also had a 2 year stint at Emilio Aguinaldo College Team B from 2006 to 2008 for the Home and Away Invitational League (HAIL) where I went up against now PBA campaigners Jewel Ponferrada, Jens Knuttel, Mac Baracael and Reil Cervantes. From the size discrepancy, skills wise and the talent level, I decided 2008 was going to be my final year. I shifted my focus my studies and prepare myself to a different career path. At that point I feel blessed to be able to play in elementary, high school and college. 

Meanwhile, Philippine Basketball has been brought to new heights with the creation of the Gilas Basketball program supported by the Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas (SBP). After a series of heartbreaks starting from the 2002 Busan Asian Games where Korea's Lee Sang Min's heave at the buzzer closed the doors for a gold medal match against China. 

Korea celebrates a 69-68 win against the Philippines at the 2002 Busan Asian Games

(image by: www.rappler.com)

The 2005 suspension where the country was not allowed to participate in any FIBA sanctioned event due to the dispute with the Basketball Association of the Philippines (BAP) and Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). 

In 2007, the country placed 9th and was relegated to the consolation rounds of the FIBA Asia at Tokushima, Japan. 

The SMC Backed RP Team at the 2007 FIBA Asia at Tokushima, Japan

(image by: Kotchi Kamoshida)

In 2009, a 82-80 loss to arch nemesis Korea dropped the Philippines to 8th spot at the FIBA Asia at Tianjin, China. 

Asi Taulava defends Korea's 7"3 Center Ha Seung Jin at the 2009 FIBA Asia at Tianjin, China

(image by: https://theprodigy7.wordpress.com)

In the 2011 FIBA Asia at Wuhan, China, with the Gilas program in place and reinforced by former Los Angeles Lakers draftee Marcus Eugene Douthit the Philippines lost to Korea 70-68 in the battle for third place and automatic slot to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament for the 2012 Beijing Olympics. 

Jimmy Alapag drives against Oh Se Keun at the 2011 FIBA Asia at Wuhan, China 

(image by: Miyad Palami)

2013, saw Manila host the FIBA Asia and Gilas Pilipinas qualified for the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain by defeating Korea in the semi-finals 86-79.

 Gilas Pilipinas celebrates a hard fought victory opposite Korea at the 2013 FIBA Asia at Manila, Philippines

(image by: Nuki Sabio)

In the 2014 FIBA World Cup, saw Gilas Pilipinas dropped close games against Croatia, Greece, Argentina and Puerto Rico but showed class and a fighting heart eventually earning a 81-79 monumental victory against Senegal. 

Jimmy Alapag raises his hands in triumph during the 2014 FIBA World Cup at Spain

(image by www.FIBA.com)

For the latest reincarnation of the Gilas Pilipinas basketball program, a new batch of heroes emerged for the country's quest to Asian Basketball supremacy. Led by head coach Thomas Anthony Baldwin, a veteran of various international basketball competitions all across the globe. With a new system in place but the battle cry still remains. "Laban Pilipinas" "Puso!" There have been a slew of roadblocks along the way like the availability of the best players of the land, the weight and conditioning problems of naturalized import Andray Blatche and the shocking opening loss to Palestine at the 2015 FIBA Asia at Changsha, China. The team regrouped, sacrificed and continued to find ways amidst the difficult circumstances. Together Gilas 3.0 forged a bond, a brotherhood and faced every opponent who stands in front of them. While Gilas Pilipinas put on a gallant stand and failed to defeat hosts China in the finals for an automatic berth to the 2016 Rio Olympics, these players served as an inspiration to us. 

Gilas Pilipinas with the silver medal finish at the 2015 FIBA Asia at Changsha, China

(image by: www.philstar.com)

From a kid of humble beginnings, it gave me a morale boosting victory for myself seeing how every player sacrificed in order to garner success. Gilas Pilipinas proved to be not only my modern day heroes but also to others. In life, we cannot achieve something if we don't work hard for it. A combination of sacrifice, dedication and perseverance will help you bear fruit. I may not be a professional basketball player which I dreamt while I was at 3rd grade but Gilas Pilipinas provided me with the inspiration and until now I continue playing the game that I love and also share what I learned to others in a different avenue.