CHICAGO - The bad thing about having a Gilas Pilipinas game on prime time in the Philippines is that you can't hide the ugliness under the cover of midnight's darkness.
And here's the God-honest truth about Wednesday's 2025 FIBA Asia Cup quarterfinal.
We did not belong in the same court as the Boomers, who have won this showcase twice.
READ Cone admits no Gilas scheme worked vs Aussies: 'They overwhelmed us'
Right from the start, the Aussies immediately let Gilas know who was the boss, punching them in the mouth with a furious start that erected a 19-6 lead following a Jack McVeigh 3 at the 5:35 mark of the first quarter.
At that point, it was clear Gilas stood no chance. Their guards had the height of our centers and the quickness of our guards. The Aussies were too big, too quick, too good.
And that's why eight-time PBA MVP June Mar Fajardo logged less than seven minutes of play. He was a match-up disadvantage for our side.
REALITY BITES.
There are more bitter realities on that brutal night in that Arabian desert, and if sympathy and a shoulder to lean on is what you seek, it might be best not to proceed reading this piece.
After watching Chinese-Taipei bludgeon Gilas for 97 points in the earlier round, the Aussies ravaged the same porous Gilas defense by hitting 46.7 percent of their 2-point field goals (21-of-45) and 36.7 percent of their threes (11-of-30).
Led by Jaylin Galloway's 15 points, five Boomers finished in double figures in scoring to highlight a balanced inside-out attack They also dominated the rebounds (57-36) while losing the assists (15-13) battle.
In contrast, Gilas shot just 31.9 percent from the field overall (22-of-69) and 24.2 percent from 3 (8-of-33).
The length and athleticism of the Boomers stifled a Gilas offense that erupted for 95 points in a thrilling overtime victory over Saudi Arabia just 48 hours before.
"The triangle just doesn't work anymore in international basketball," a former national team coach said of current Gilas coach Tim Cone's favored offensive system.
THE NUMBERS DO NOT LIE.
Chris Newsome, Scottie Thompson, Jamie Malonzo, Carl Tamayo, AJ Edu and Fajardo scored only a combined 16 points on an abysmal 5-of-28 shooting.
Wasn't the triangle supposed to create open good looks?
It didn't help that Dwight Ramos, affectionately called St. Dwight by his admirers, was less than holy with just 15 points on 7-of-22 shooting including a horrid 1-for-11 from 3.
And serial hero Justin Brownlee was held to a mere 10 points. It still puzzles me why he only took 11 field goals.
The only bright light for Gilas was Kevin Quiamboo, who delighted a weary fan base with 17 points on 6-for-10 shooting. It's a mystery why KQ logged only 25 minutes and 09 seconds of action while the misfiring Ramos was out there for 35:58.
Gilas will always be a powerhouse in the SEA Games and Asian Games.
But as it emerges from the debris of this fruitless 2025 FIBA Asia Cup, it's clear, like never before, that our program remains light years behind the best of the best in the world.
Sad but true.
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