PBA: GILAS MUST DREAM ON
Convinced that Philippine basketball has its gains in the World Cup and in the Asian Games, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud now hopes the national team builds on these to perform even better in its next international campaigns.
After the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, Korea, Salud believes the most ideal first move is to “consolidate the gains (in Spain and in Korea) and then chart a course so we exceed our current performance.”
Needless to say, the Philippine Basketball Association is committed to continue its support to the national team program of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
PBA board chairman Patrick Gregorio, in fact, is egging on the national cage federation to continue with its program.
“We must continue to dream,” said Gregorio, insisting the national team must continue to aspire to inspire the Filipino people.
“After our win against Kazakhstan, it took us more than an hour to leave the arena. Thousands of Filipino overseas waited for our PBA heroes. Our players obliged, they signed autographs, they took selfies. We will go home without a medal this time around but we made our kababayans very happy. This is what Puso ng Gilas is all about,” Gregorio pointed out.
For the league commissioner, the first order after the Asiad is to sit down in a meeting with SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan
“We’ll exchange thoughts on what happened in Spain and in Korea, in essence, to conduct a critical analysis,” said Salud.
“Then, I will do a round of consultations with our team owners to express gratitude for their support and share my views, as well as solicit theirs,” Salud added. “On that basis, we should arrive at a consensus on how best to pursue the program moving forward.”
The next major tournament for Gilas Pilipinas is not easy.
Up next is the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China which serves as the regional qualifier for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Only the champion in that tourney makes the next Olympiad.
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