The Philippines ended 33 years of a finals’ drought in the men’s basketball of the Asian Games last Wednesday night. The gritty Pinoy squad clawed back from a 20-point hole behind the heroics of Justin Brownlee, to stun host China 77-76 at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The last time the country managed to reach the basketball semifinals was in the 2002 Busan Asian Games. In 1990, Robert “The Big J” Jaworski led the Philippines to a silver-medal finish in the quadrennial games, but the last time the country won the gold was in 1962.
The Philippines will face Jordan for all the marbles tonight at 8 p.m. Tim Cone and his boys have secured the silver medal, but why stop there? We have a chance to win the gold medal against Jordan and at the same time exact revenge for the beatdown we suffered earlier in the tournament.
But more than ending years and even decades of frustrations in the biggest continental tournament this side of the globe, the win against China is a reminder that the ball and the world is round. For a country that has been suffering so much disrespect, abuse and bullying in the West Philippine Sea and in Scarborough Shoal with the unending intrusions of Chinese vessels – military and otherwise – day in and day out, Brownlee’s three pointer in the last 23 seconds of the ballgame was a major middle finger to China. That it happened in their own backyard made it even better.
The victory in the basketball court will never make up for all the abuses that our fishermen have suffered against Chinese vessels in the territories we rightfully own. It will never bring back the three Filipinos, who lost their lives after their boat was rammed by an unidentified foreign commercial vessel off the coast of Agno, Pangasinan the other day and the other unfortunate souls before them.
The win might just be the spark that we need in reviving our national pride. If we can be just as passionate when it comes to basketball in defending what is ours in the Spratlys and in the Scarborough Shoal, then probably we have a chance in finally standing up against China. If our politicians can make a fool of themselves watching a game against China, then they can be better off in pushing for a legislative agenda or, better yet, a concrete manifestation of defiance against Chinese intrusions other than wearing those “Atin ang West Philippine Sea” shirts. But knowing our politicians, then again, it is up to us basketball-, and even football-loving ordinary Filipinos to show the same passion and devotion in defending our sovereignty and our country.
Whether in basketball, football or in the West Philippine Sea, laban Pilipinas!
Speaking of another “laban,” the Philippine Football Federation has announced the call up list of the 25 Azkals who will fly on Monday, October 9, to Bahrain for a couple of tuneup games. The list includes Marvin Angeles, Justin Baas, Pocholo Bugas, Jesse Curran, Kenshiro Daniels, Neil Etheridge, Jarvey Gayoso, Joshua Grommen, Kevin Ingreso, Enrique Linares, Bienve Marañon, Jhan Melliza, Kevin Mendoza, Audie Menzi, Manny and Mike Ott, OJ Porteria, Patrick Reichelt, Sandro Reyes, Simone Rota, Santiago Rublico, Daisuke Sato, Julian Schwarzer, Jeff Tabinas and Dennis Villanueva. While the list contain very familiar names, several others are also missing like Gerrit Holtmann, who has yet to make his return to the team, Sebastian Rasmussen, Christian Rontini, the ever-elusive Raphael Obermair, Jaime Rosquillo, John-Patrick Strauss and others whom fans expect to play in the October FIFA window.
Azkals’ Head Coach Michael Weiss said some players can’t come because of injuries and other reasons.
“We contacted them early and then they said yes but then later it’s a no. It is really unpredictable but this is the environment that a national coach has to deal with. But we are positive that with this group, we can continue our preparations for November. If one player is missing, then another gets a chance,” Weiss explained.
He is aso happy that Grommen and Tabinas are coming back, which is a positive in boosting the central defender positions in the team. The Azkals will face Bahrain on October 17, then they will play Kyrgyzstan too on the 15th, but “unofficially.” Weiss, however, reiterated that the game will be competitive.
“For the Kyrgyzstan match, I will play two groups of 10 so I will switch the Azkals at halftime so that everybody can play. It is also an opportunity for the younger players and newcomers to show themselves,” Weiss said.
The German mentor also revealed that the team was definitely inspired by the big win of the Philippine Men’s National Basketball Team against China the other night, which despite having a short time of preparations and battling through several issues outside the basketball court, will now play for the gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games.
“The Filipino spirit, determination and passion for the country are always there and we always take these things as ours, our own and we will definitely take inspiration from this amazing display of never-giving up despite the odds,” Weiss added.
Earlier, Stephan Schrock, the team consultant slash adviser slash recruitment manager, told The Designated Kit Man that at least 14 to 16 players will form the core of the team and will be reinforced by more Azkals who will commit to the team. Schrock also shared the wonderful news that four lads coming from the Azkals Development Academy will be flying today to Germany for a tryout with the youth team of SpVgg Greuther Furth, his original team growing up.
Schrock said Alejo Vidal Paradies, Rob Elijah Esquillo, Alexander Duke Sarmiento and Geoffrey Marqueses Jr. are outstanding talents who will be given the opportunity to show what they are made of before German scouts.
“I think this is the first time in local football history in general that someone can go to a former Bundesliga club or in the youth academies to present and showcase themselves. This is pretty much a historic moment for us and for them. I hope that they make the best of it,” Schrock said.
He also added that German scouts are very capable of seeing prospects and drawing out talents from young football players.
“The goal is to have them signed up in a German Club. If they do well enough, then it is also possible that they can stay there, get an education and further their football skills in Germany,” he added. Schrock, however, maintained that he is not a scout or a player agent. He is just doing this to support young but promising players in the country and he is happy to pave the way for them to be seen abroad.
On a personal note, please tune in at 3PTS–Pambansang Tambayan ng Sports aired live over DZME 1530 Khz this coming Sunday, October 8, 2023 from 2 to 3 p.m. Basketball icons Ramon “El Presidente” Fernandez (via zoom) and Rosalio “Yoyong” Martirez will join us in the program with walking history book Cong. Butch Pichay as we go back to the glory days of Philippine Basketball.
Stay safe. Stay happy peeps!
For comments or questions, you can reach The Designated Kit Man at [email protected] or follow his account at Twitter: @erelcabatbat