PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas has set a modest goal for the Philippine men’s basketball team to the 18th Asian Games, but would be thrilled to see the hastily assembled team get to the podium.
Vargas said the immediate goal is to surpass the seventh-place finish of the Gilas Pilipinas team in the last edition of the Asiad in Incheon, Korea.
“Our objective is to improve on our last performance in the Asian Games in 2014. We were seventh, and we cannot be eighth or worse,” said Vargas. “Neither can we be seventh because that will not be an improvement.
“We expect you to do better, perhaps get us a medal.”
Vargas showed up in the Rain or Shine-backed national team’s first practice on Monday at the Meralco gym, where he spoke before the players and coaching staff.
He was joined by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio, SBP vice chairman Robbie Puno, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, Rain or Shine co-team owner Raymund Yu, and team ROS board representative Atty. Mamerto Mondragon.
The last time the country reached the podium was in the 1998 Asiad when Tim Cone and his Centennial Team won a bronze medal in Bangkok, Thailand.
Vargas said winning a medal is definitely a good achievement for this team.
“If that happens, we will truly have reason to celebrate. We might even send a band over to Jakarta,” said the POC president in jest.
Vargas expressed his gratitude to the players for heeding the clamor of the basketball-loving Filipinos to represent the country in Indonesia, as well as to Yu and Mondragon for allowing the core of the team to be built around the Rain or Shine ballclub.
At the same time, he said the players are being looked up by the other Filipino athletes for inspiration.
“You cannot let the public down and you cannot let your fellow athletes down,” he said.
“You are not going to Jakarta as a team of 12, but as part of a team of 272 athletes and officials,” Vargas added. “Carry the Philippine flag proudly and show your heart by how you play. Let the Filipino fan see and feel it. We will be there.”
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