NAGOYA, Japan — Senator Christopher 'Bong' Go said the Senate will conduct a post-evaluation inquiry into the performance of the Gilas Pilipinas that failed to advance past the group stage at the 20th Asian Games men's basketball tournament in Aichi-Nagoya.
The Senate inquiry will summon officials from the Samahang Basketbolista ng Pilipinas (SBP) to explain what went wrong with the national team, which just three years ago in Hangzhou ended a 62-year gold medal drought in Asiad basketball.
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"Magkakaroon po tayo ng post-evaluation hearing sa Senado... Ipapatawag ko po 'yung SBP, lahat po, tatanungin natin," Go, chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, said.
"What went wrong, bakit na-eliminate nang maaga, at bakit po ganun 'yung pagkatalo... Nakakalungkot po na defending champion tayo, pinaghirapan natin 'yun after 62 years, tapos kaya naman nating manalo muli basta preparado lang po,” he added.
Go questioned why the core of the team that swept Gilas' games in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers window was not deployed to Nagoya.
"Sana pinadala 'yung core team ng FIBA — kahit na anim o pito katulad nung ginawa nung 2023... Hindi 'yung bagong team."
He also pointed out the contrast between the Philippines and other Asian contenders who effectively fielded naturalized talent.
"Halimbawa, 'yung Bahrain, apat 'yung naturalized players nila. Tayo wala man lang ni isa... May mga naturalized players tayo na pinaghirapan nating ma-naturalize sa Senado. Dapat sana magamit, on deck at ready maglaro."
At the same time, Go hinted that some of his fellow senators are also interested in getting to the bottom of why the country didn’t deploy a strong and solid line-up to defend the Asiad crown.
Asked what the Senate wants to achieve with the inquiry, Go stressed that this will be about averting another debacle in the future.
“Moving forward tayo, para hindi na po maulit (yung nangyari). Kung nagawa natin noong last Asian Games, bakit hindi natin magawa ngayon?” said Go.
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