GILAS Pilipinas greats are hopeful that the homecourt advantage will help the current batch overcome tall odds when it opens its Fiba Basketball World Cup 2023 campaign on August 25 against Dominican Republic.
Gilas ambassadors Jeff Chan and Gary David expressed their optimism during Sunday’s Trophy Tour at the Mall of Asia Atrium when asked about the chances of the national team in the World Cup especially with the Filipino crowd behind it.
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“Ang basketball, alam natin, 50-50 game. As long as well-prepared tayo, gawin natin ‘yung game plan, hopefully, ‘yung first game, makuha natin agad,” said Chan.
“Alam naman natin mga Pilipino, laging sinasabi bilog ang bola,” said David. “Eto ‘yung chance natin lalo na nandito ‘yung crowd natin, ‘yung sixth man natin na sumusuporta sa atin."
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"As a player, napakalaking bagay na hawak natin ‘yung homecourt advantage na nakasuporta tayong lahat. Basta gawin lang nila, naka-focus at ‘yung kumpiyansa every game, dalhin nila," he added.
Chan, David, and Larry Fonacier are just three of the Gilas ambassadors who have travelled around the Philippines as part of the tour of the Naismith Trophy, the top prize in the Fiba Basketball World Cup.
Chan, who along with David and Fonacier was part of the Gilas team that reached the 2014 World Cup following their second-place finish in the Fiba Asia Championship the year prior, hopes that the crowd will play a pivotal part in the Nationals’ bid especially in the first game against the Dominican Republic on Friday.
“Malaking bagay ‘yun, malaking confidence ‘yun going to the next game. I know may NBA player pa sila pero as long as may puso tayo maglaro, 50-50 ballgame, you’ll never know,” said the former Gilas gunner.
The Gilas greats said they are honored to remain part of Gilas as its ambassadors.
“Happy ako na I’m still part of Gilas. Alam ko rin ‘yung feeling nung time namin sa Fiba Asia, Fiba World, sila din before sumuporta sa amin. It’s our time to support. Hindi lang kami, dapat tayo, ipakita natin ‘yung support pagdating ng August 25,” said Chan.
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