Rank Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
    View Today
    Sun, Nov 5

    On This Day Exactly A Decade Ago: Gilas breaks Korean jinx

    RDO, Jeff Chan look back on the day that started the resurgence of the Philippine national team
    Aug 10, 2023
    undefined

    WHERE were you when one of the most dramatic moments in Philippine basketball history took place exactly a decade ago today?

    August 10, 2013 will go down as D-Day for the national men’s basketball team after ending the long string of losses against South Korea with a stunning 86-79 win in the semifinals of the FIBA Asia Championship.

    Tears were shed and jubilation erupted on an emotional night at the Mall of Asia Arena when Gilas Pilipinas finally conquered its long-time nemesis and broke a curse that has cast a huge shadow on this basketball-crazy country for a great deal of time.

    The team did it behind a huge display of grit and heart amid an early dilemma brought about by losing naturalized big man Marcus Douthit to a calf injury in the opening half, never to return again.

    But the absence of Douthit proved to be the rallying point the team needed that stoked the fire in the rest of Gilas.

    Engaging the Koreans in a see-saw battle, the Filipinos found themselves trailing with 4:40 left to play after King Ming Go completed a rare four-point play to put the visitors ahead, 75-73.

    But Gilas wouldn’t let the white-clad, partisan crowd down as Jimmy Alapag, Ranidel De Ocampo, Marc Pingris, and Gabe Norwood took care of business when the game appeared to slip away from the home team.

    De Ocampo, bless his heart, instigated the telling Gilas run coming home, scoring five straight points, including a bank shot off Seung-Jun Lee that put the team in front for good, 78-77, with 2:20 left.

    Alapag joined the fray and hit a pressure-packed three pointer to make it a five-point lead, before Norwood blocked Go’s three point attempt in the next possession.

    Pingris then put the finishing touches to the 13-3 Gilas run as he recovered a possession after Jayson Castro’s shot was blocked, and converted on a follow-up that sealed the thrilling win for the Philippines.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    Pandemonium broke out amid a deafening roar of the crowd as the final buzzer sounded, with players and the coaching staff led by Chot Reyes weeping unabashedly knowing fully well the magnitude the victory brought for Philippine basketball.

    “A decade after, I still remember the happy faces ng ating mga kababayan,” said De Ocampo looking back.

    “One of the greatest events that ever happened in Philippine basketball history,” added the now TNT deputy coach, who finished with 11 points and six rebounds.

    Jeff Chan sat on pin and needles on the bench as he watched the waning moments of the tense ballgame. And like the rest of the wildly-cheering crowd, the veteran shooting guard also found himself overcame by emotions when everything was over.

    “Naiyak ako nun, and I think lahat naman ng nanood naiyak din,” he said.

    “Hindi ko siya malilimutan. Fresh siya lagi sa memories ko at ang sarap niyang balik-balikan kahit sa kuwentuhan lang,” Chan added. “Minsan nga yung mga kausap ko na ang nag-o-open up regarding sa Korea game namin. Kahit sila fresh pa rin sa memories nila.”

    CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓
    Watch Now

    The emotional win finally broke the more than two-decade dominance by the Koreans on the Filipinos, including that heartbreaker of a loss in the semifinals of the 2002 Asian Games in Busan.

    It likewise gave the country a berth in the finals opposite Iran after 37 years, and significantly, clinched a berth in the FIBA World Cup for the first time since 1978.

    “It was a very emotional night kasi hindi lang natin natalo ang Korea, but nakuha din natin ang ticket papuntang World Cup,” Chan said. “And from what I remember, medyo matagal na yung last World Cup stint natin.”

    No wonder, both De Ocampo, now retired, and Chan, still playing for Northport, considered it one of the highlights of their playing careers.

    “I will forever cherish it and consider it one of the best parts of my professional basketball career,” said the 41-year-old De Ocampo.

    “Masasabi kong isa siya sa highlight ng career ko,” Chan, 40, said for his part.

    ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW ↓

    Now as another World Cup campaign dawns on Gilas Pilipinas, De Ocampo tries to rally the entire country to back the team again, win or lose.

    “Let’s continue supporting our national team. Maraming salamat at mabuhay ang Pilipinas,” he said.

    Just like how the Filipinos supported Gilas one memorable night a decade ago.

    Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph

    Read Next
    Watch Now
    Sorry, no results found for
  • POLL

    • Quiz

      Quiz Result