A DECADE after, the Gilas Pilipinas team that reached the FIBA World Cup for the first time in more than three decades held a different kind of reunion.
In commemorating the coming 10th year celebration of the team’s hisyoric return to the 2014 Fiba World Cup in Spain, former members of Gilas Pilipinas went on a tour of Canada and played against several local and school teams.
Jeff Chan, one of the gunners of that national team which scored a dramatic 86-79 semifinal win over South Korea which clinched the Philippines' first World Cup berth in 36 years, said the trip has been planned early this year and timed for the PBA offseason.
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Aside from Chan, other members of the touring Gilas Legends team were Gabe Norwood, LA Tenorio, Ranidel De Ocampo, Gary David, Marc Pingris, Beau Belga, Marcus Douthit, and Arwind Santos.
Belga was a reserve in that Gilas team coached by Chot Reyes, while Santos played with a later batch under coach Yeng Guiao.
Also with the group is Senator Joel Villanueva, a former member of the Philippine Youth team and University of Santo Tomas squad.
Games played against University of Calgary, Regina, Edmonton, Red Deer, Winnipeg, and St. John.
“First game was against University of Calgary, yung mga sumunod na games mga selection na, tapos merong mga kababayan natin,” said Chan from Canada.
Other members of that history-making team but were not around were Japeth Aguilar, June Mar Fajardo, Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, and Larry Fonacier.
“Wala kaming coach,” said Chan when asked who handles the team.
Following the win over South Korea, Gilas lost to Hamed Hadadi and Iran in the gold medal play, 85-71, but still clinched a ticket to the World Cup in Seville, Spain, the country’s first stint in the quadrennial showcase since 1978.
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