Funny and heartwarming tweets from Gilas' historic win against Korea
It was history unfolding before the nation's eyes.
After experiencing heart-wrenching losses in the hands of sharpshooting Korea for the past three decades, the Philippines finally triumphed over its basketball nemesis, 86-79, in the FIBA Asia Championship.
Gilas Pilipinas won with a hobbled Marcus Douthit and with Japeth Aguilar riding the bench for most of the match, seeing limited minutes for different reasons. The naturalized big man aggravated his bruised shin and had to be subbed out while the high-flying forward racked up a couple of fouls early in the game.
>>SEE: Madrid, here we come! Gilas stops Korea in emotional semifinal win
Gilas Pilipinas’ victory secured the national team a berth in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in Madrid, Spain.
It is going to be a rare opportunity for our guys to show how far Philippine basketball has come over the last decades, so imagine the massive "Pinoy pride" tweet explosion that occurred when the national squad defeated the South Koreans.
The flood of Gilas Pilipinas-related tweets was the collective euphoria after a Filipino team with an average height of 6-foot-3 proved to the world—and, more importantly, to themselves—that it can thrive in a sport for giants.
Here are some of those that made our night.
ADVISORY: As of 10:10PM, expect traffic buildup at EDSA Taft northbound due to volume of vehicles from SM MOA. Pero PANALO parin po Gilas!:D
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) August 10, 2013
Dahil may Espana office na po ang MMDA with hotline 02-7111059, Team Gilas Pilipinas ay pupunta nadin po sa Espana for FIBA #Spain2014 :D
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) August 10, 2013
Tonight, we ate bulgogi. Tomorrow, we will feast on shawarma! Go Gilas!!!!!!!
— Jim (@Jimparedes) August 10, 2013
Dear South Korea, alalahanin nyo, hawak namin si Ryan Bang. -GILAS PILIPINAS =)))
— Tehyuuuuh ▲ ✞ (@TheaaAlysa) August 10, 2013
Dear Gilas Pilipinas, K-POP the good work!
— PINOY JOKES (@MgaKatatawanan) August 10, 2013
Laughtrip ung mga #FIBAAsia2013 memes. Hahaha OPM vs KPOP, Achara vs Kimchi, Atsuete vs BB Cream. Hahahahaha :))
— nate (@choconatey) August 10, 2013
Tuyo vs sibuyas! RT @Simply_Clinton: Kung kanina, ang laro ay Achara vs Kimchi, bukas naman sa finals, Tuyo vs Bawang? #fibaasia2013
— B (@itsmissbea) August 10, 2013
"GAME TOMORROW: Gilas Pilipinas vs CEU Dentistry students (IRAN)!" ~ stolen from Bedista FB page. HAHAHAHA. pati sa UE maraming Iranian!
— LA Hexum-Boyd ♔ (@iamsupereley) August 10, 2013
"O pano ba yan, panalo ako sa pustahan natin?" - PNoy to Grace Lee.
— Marian Rivera-Dantes (@superstarmarian) August 10, 2013
PAG NAG CHAMPION BUKAS WALANG PASOK SA MONDAY!! Hahaha :) #GilasPilipinas
— OMGeeAnn★ (@francesgeeann) August 10, 2013
NATALO MGA KPOP! DAANIN NA LANG DAW SA GWIYOMI YUNG LABAN! #GilasPilipinas
— NGA NGA! (@NgaNgaDre) August 10, 2013
If there were funny tweets, there were also those that tugged at the heartstrings. After all, Gilas Pilipinas displayed pure heart in the semifinals game against the South Koreans. How else could one show his support for the team?
Walang Atenista, Walang Lasalista, Walang makaGinebra, Walang Maka Alaska, Walang Letranista, Walang taga Mapua. Lahat tayo Pinoy! Go Gilas!
— Makoy Pare (@ShowbizBro899) August 10, 2013
“When you’re playing against Gilas Pilipinas, you’re not playing against a team… you’re playing against a COUNTRY.” -Coach Chot ♥
— AlexPeetaJaceFour. (@ayaa_ibarra) August 10, 2013
It's the spirit that carries us. - Chot Reyes #gilas #GilasPilipinas #proudtobepinoy #LabanPilipinas
— frunch marco (@frunch_fries) August 10, 2013
Sa PBA sinuswelduhan kami para maglaro. Sa #GilasPilipinas magpapakamatay talaga kami. - Marc PingrisWell said. 👏Iba ang may #hugot
— Sub for Company (@SubforCo) August 10, 2013
I was there! Couldn't believe it! Long, long time coming! So incredibly proud of Chot and the players! Ping--what a warrior!! PUSO!!!
— Tim Cone (@manilacone) August 10, 2013
#PUSO! Molded, shaped, into something that stands out. THAT is what #GilasPilipinas showed tonight.… http://t.co/nkRwvPHK97
— menchu macapagal (@scarletonradio) August 10, 2013
RT @g_IONNE_sy : @ClarissaThea: No one beats a team who fights with pure heart. #GilasPilipinas #PUSO
— Oreo ♥ (@FajardoMariah) August 10, 2013
Ako si CHRISTY DELFINO, tubong Bicol. Mula sa Labo, Camarines Norte, sumusuporta para sa Gilas Pilipinas! #LabanPilipinas #PUSO!
— Christy Delfino (@christydelfino) August 10, 2013
ako po si Jonas Geraldizo tubong Batangas at kasalukuyang nasa UAE, buong pusong sumusuporta sa #GilasPilipinas #LabanPilipinas #PUSO
— Jonas Geraldizo (@jonas0427) August 10, 2013
@denniselazaro Ang sarap pong ipagsigawan na "PINOY AKO!" :) Saludo ako sa Gilas Pilipinas sa pinakita nila. #PUSO #PilipinoAKOSILATAYO :)
— Katherine Catimbang (@OhiKat) August 10, 2013
For some, it was a chance for them to call for unity among Filipinos.
Ang saya diba kapag lahat nagkakaisa! :D #LabanPilipinas #GilasPilipinas <3
— Kimpoy Feliciano (@kimpoyfeliciano) August 10, 2013
Sana laging may laro katulad ng FIBA. Ksi dito nakikita ang pagkakaisa ng mga pilipino eh. Sana lging gnun. #GilasPilipinas
— Shaira Mae Lacanlale (@ShaiShai01) August 10, 2013
One Twitter user asked if you think you witnessed history when you saw LeBron James during his visit here. Think again, he seemed to say. Winning against the basketball team that tormented the Philippines for the past three decades? Now, that's real history.
WIITNESS HISTORY tour ni LeBron dati sa MOA... asan yung history dun?#GilasPilipinas - I just witnessed - real - history.
— David Natividad (@AirNati) August 10, 2013
