COMMISSIONER Willie Marcial was left searching for answers after a Gilas Pilipinas side made up exclusively of PBA players failed to reach the knockout rounds of the 20th Asian Games men's basketball competition.
Marcial, who along with other members of the PBA board of governors accompanied the team to Nagoya, said it was painful to see the look in the players' faces after a 61-105 defeat to China brought a shamefil end to Gilas' defense of the gold medal.
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“Masakit para sa akin to see that happen. Sobrang sakit at ganun din sa mga players,” said Marcial, adding the mood in the Gilas dugout inside the Arci Arena in downtown nagoya after the defeat felt more like a funeral.
“There was no crying, pero lahat nakatungo. Halos ayaw ko rin silang tignan, masakit eh,” the longtime PBA executive added.
Marcial sounded like a man who doesn't have the answers when asked about the defeat to a tall and driven Chinese side by hastily formed team that was left without a naturalized player and other overseas-based mainstays.
“Pero ano magagawa ng mga players natin? Ang tatangkad ng mga Chinese players ngayon, mga shooters pa," Marcial said. “Talagang pinaghandaan tayo ng husto ng China.”
He still saluted the PBA players for stepping up for flag and country.
“Nakakaawa kasi sila and I salute them for the sacrifices they made and their willingness to serve the country. So nagpapasalamat pa rin ako sa kanila ng husto,” said Marcial.
Marcial and the entire Gilas contingent are set to go home on Wednesday, and he wished it was under very different circumstances.
“Sayang nga dapat mas nauna yung window ng FIBA World Cup qualifiers kaysa sa Asian Games,” said Marcial. “Sana hindi ganito. Iba talaga kapag walang naturalized players."
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