THE Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) admitted overlooking Gilas Pilipinas men’s campaign in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, which resulted in the basketball team’s worst finish in the history of the continental meet.
The federation will be making a thorough post-Asiad evaluation on what went wrong and avoid making the same mistakes again in future competitions.
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SBP executive director Erika Dy spoke for the first time about Gilas’ failed bid to defend the basketball gold that it won in the 2022 Hangzhou Asiad on Monday night during Team Philippines' welcome ceremony at the Century Seafood Restaurant.
“We should really do an evaluation on how we can really come up with a very good team to the Asian Games, given the fact na hindi siya naka-align right now with the FIBA calendar,” said Dy, who arrived from Nagoya just hours before the proceedings as she served as one of the deputy chefs de mission of Team Philippines.
“Doon tayo medyo nahihirapan.”
But the SBP executive did acknowledge that the experience was truly a disheartening considering the country just ended a 61-year gold medal drought three years ago in China, only to bow out in Nagoya even before the knockout stage.
The country eventually finished ninth overall and marked the first time it failed to make the quarterfinals since professional players began to reinforce the national men's basketball team in 1990.
“Obviously, disappointing naman talaga. Hindi natin 'yun matatago,” said Dy. “But that’s sports, di ba? Sabi nga ni [Philippine Sports Commission] Chairman (Patrick Gregorio), matiyempuhan ka minsan na masama ang gising mo, hindi maganda yung ilalaro, important game. So it was difficult.”
At the same time, the SBP is not undervaluing the importance of the Asiad, a tournament which the Philippines had won five times in the past. It is currently tied with reigning champion South Korea at second for most titles won just behind the eighth of China.
“Importante ang Asian Games, hindi natin puwedeng pabayaan 'yun,” Dy said.
“So yun ang uupuan namin (SBP) with the coaches on how to attack (our campaign) in the Asian Games the next time around para hindi nabibitawan yung FIBA calendar na hindi mawala yung focus doon kasi importante rin yung qualification to the World Cup. But at the same time, do well also in the Asiad.”
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