CHICAGO - Watching Gilas Pilipinas getting mauled by Chinese-Taipei, 95-87, in their 2025 FIBA Asia Cup opener on Wednesday morning had the feel of sitting through a movie you've already seen before.
A false start that led to an early 17-point deficit was followed by a torrid Fernando Poe-like fightback before ultimately succumbing to an all familiar ending.
Another humbling, disappointing loss.
SCENARIOS: Gilas' quarterfinal hopes hinge on New Zealand game
Although Chinese Taipei had made inroads in talent to boost its program, they're still ranked 73 in the world, 39 notches below 34th-ranked Gilas. We were supposed to be just tested, not defeated by them.
And with that stunning L which played out in the small wee hours of the morning in the Philippines, Pinoy hoop fans are left broken-hearted and sleep-deprived yet again.
When coach Tim Cone closed his eyes to sleep on Wednesday night in Saudi Arabia, he likely had recurring nightmares about Chinese gunner Yung Chun-chen who abused Gilas defenders with a 34-point eruption that included six made 3s.
NO D IN GILAS.
Cone also probably tossed and turned about his team's 16 turnovers, the 35 free throws they surrendered plus their dismal 8-of-28 clip from 3 and 9-for-15 from the free throw stripe.
FIBA courts are littered with the carcasses of teams that gave up 95 points in 40 minutes, Gilas, which hemorrhaged 2.1 points every minute of that fateful match, had glaring defensive weaknesses that Chinese Taipei exploited.
We couldn't cover the 3-point line where the opponents struck for 12-of-27 while June Mar Fajardo couldn't defend the ball screen as 7-foot Brandon Gilbeck had a field day rolling to the basket and finishing with 16 points to go with his nine boards.
But internal issues beyond what transpired at the King Abdullah Sports City in Jeddah haunted Gilas.
A shallow pool. Crammed practices. And an apparent lack of game prep that led to that demoralizing and fatal 25-8 hole at the ten-minute mark of the first quarter.
A rigid PBA schedule which refuses to bend for Fiba windows continues to be a problem.
TIRED FAJARDO.
Fajardo only had two points and two rebounds while a similarly fatigued Calvin Oftana struggled with six points on 2-for-10 shooting. It's not a coincidence that both played in the Philippine Cup Finals which ended only last July 25.
The guys that showed up for Gilas were those that have long been resting, including Scottie Thompson (16 points, 7 rebounds), Dwight Ramos (16 points, 6 assists) and Kevin Quiambao (17 points in 16 minutes).
By not making sure adequate practices are held and players are available on time for an extended camp, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) fell short in the goal of putting Gilas in the best position to win while the coaching staff share some of the blame for lack of scouting a previously meek but now retooled foe.
Strong Group Athletics had beaten the same Chinese-Taipei team just weeks ago during the Frank Lao-owned team's successful Jones Cup title defense. But nobody reached out to coach Charles Tiu for pointers and intel.
What happened to due diligence?
Let's all pray and root hard for Gilas to upset No.22-ranked New Zealand tomorrow, but by the same token be prepared for another letdown and return back here for group therapy.
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