IT was swift but sweet.
The Edu family was on hand to cheer for and support AJ and the Gilas Pilipinas team as it finally barged into the win column of the 31st FIBA Asia Cup on Saturday.
Josie Litang Edu, her husband Ayotunde, and AJ’s youngest brother Ben, travelled all the way from the United Kingdom to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to watch the 6-foot-10 center play in a Philippine team jersey for the first time.
READ Gilas faces souped-up Saudi team three years since last meeting
Their effort and time proved worth it after a 66-57 win by Gilas over Iraq that clinched for the Filipinos a berth in the qualification phase of the continental meet.
Josie was one proud mother as she gave his son a warm kiss and a hug following the all-important win at the King Abdullah Sports City.
“We are very happy and we felt so proud. It was so surreal,” the Edu matriarch shared to SPIN.ph the feeling of finally seeing AJ in the flesh and donning the Gilas Pilipinas jersey.
In as much as the entire family would have loved to be with the 25-year-old player shortly after the game, tournament protocols didn’t allow them to go with him in the Gilas locker room, which Josie understands.
“We couldn’t go closer to him. FIBA is a bit strict about it,” she said.
Nonetheless, the entire Edu family had a dinner together shortly after the game.
Edu, who plays for the Gunma Crane Thunders in the Japan B.League, had a good, all-around game for Gilas in the win against Iraq, finishing with nine points, seven rebounds, two steals, and two block shots in 24 minutes of play.
He ranked No. 8 in the tournament in rebounding with 8.3 per game and averaged 5.7 points and 2.0 block shots.
While the Edu household was happy seeing Gilasfinally win a game in their presence, just witnessing their son and the entire team playing together as a unit was more than enough to make them feel proud.
“We’re glad as well that they won. But irrespective, we are proud of the Gilas team’s performance,” said Josie, who’s from Surigao City.
Being part of the pro-Gilas crowd in the playing venue was also a glorious experience for the Edus.
“It was also great to see the amount of support the Filipino fans gave to the team,” added Josie.
Too bad, the family didn’t stay longer in the Middle East to watch AJ and the rest of the Gilas unit take on Saudi Arabia in what would be a thrilling battle between the host team and the tournament’s most popular squad in a do-or-die game Tuesday midnight (Manila time) for a berth in the quarterfinals.
“Unfortunately, we’re going back to the UK (on Sunday),” she said.
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