Pinoy fans welcome Gilas to Incheon
INCHEON, KOREA - Gilas Pilipinas is ready to go to battle at the Asian Games, and the fans here are all pumped up.
On Saturday evening we proceeded to the Incheon Airport to welcome Coach Chot Reyes and the team. When we reached the arrival area, there were about forty Filipinos, many of whom were clad in Gilas Pilipinas t-shirts, holding little Filipino flags, just waiting to see their basketball idols. We spoke to several of them and learned that they are overseas workers who work in Incheon or other Korean cities, with others coming from as far as Busan, which is about five hours away from here. They just wanted to show their support for the team and have a chance to meet the players in person. They told us that they were not just Gilas fans, but also PBA fans and that they were looking forward to the upcoming fortieth season of the pro league.
When Coach Chot finally emerged from inside the baggage claim area, our “kababayans” started chanting “Puso” and “Laban Pilipinas”, as they cheered aloud, attracting so much attention from all the non-Filipinos in that area of the airport. Coach Chot and the rest of the team then gave the fans what they wanted – they signed autographs, posed for pictures, and chatted with the fans that had waited for them for more than two hours. Many of them promised the Gilas players that they would catch as many of the games live as they could.
Our crew was allowed to ride the team bus to the Athletes’ Village. Along the way, one of the players started playing the music of Michael Jackson hits such as "Billie Jean" and "Beat It", and the players, who were in high spirits, were joking around and telling stories. After they checked in at the welcome tent, they proceeded inside the gate of the Village, where non-athletes like me are not allowed to enter, to rest and get ready for practice the next day.
At their first practice in Incheon on September 21, at the Songdo High School court, several of the fans who welcomed the team at the airport were present and allowed to observe. The picture-taking continued after the team went through a series of light drills, a large portion of which was to familiarize themselves with the feel of the new ball, the brand used in the Korean Basketball League.
In the morning of their second full day, the Gilas players trooped to the venue for the swimming competitions to cheer on Filipina swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi. They brought signs with the familiar “Laban Pilipinas” and “Puso” written on them, and went all-out in support of their Team Pilipinas companion. Alas, Alkhaldi, despite her valiant effort, finished ninth overall in her competition, one where only the top eight would enter into the next phase.
By 4:00pm, the team was back at Songdo High for practice number two. Yet again, Filipino fans were present at the venue just to watch Gilas work and get down to the task at hand, which is a return to Asian basketball supremacy. One observer was a Filipino who now teaches Physical Education here in Incheon and coaches basketball, Joe Payongayong, who is a good friend of Talk ‘N Text forward Harvey Carey and Gilas captain Jimmy Alapag. The team went through free throw shooting drills and some defensive and offensive patterns that were specifically designed for particular opponents.
Gilas was unsure of which team it would face first in its scheduled game on 23 September, since its initial opponent was yet to be determined in the last of the preliminary round games that began on 21 September. In the midst of all the hustle and bustle, Coach Chot checked his phone and announced that India had earned the ticket to face Gilas first. India had given Gilas a scare during the FIBA Asia Cup held in Wuhan, China, where the Philippine squad won the bronze medal, just prior to Gilas’ trip to Miami in preparation for the FIBA World Cup.
Assistant Coach Tab Baldwin stated that the game versus India in Wuhan should be considered a blessing, since Gilas would never take the Indian team for granted again. He mentioned that India, with its height, will be tough for sure, but that he believes the Gilas big men are superior to those of India, and that the Gilas backcourt is superior as well, leaving no doubt in his mind that the team will pull through. Gilas’ second game is against Asian powerhouse Iran on 25 September.
Thus far, it has been a busy schedule for Gilas, and it will only get busier as the days go by. Of course, the idea is to take it a game at a time and to keep working harder, stay focused, and get better every day. Despite some hitches, aches and pains along the way, the lineup is set, and the players are healthy and ready to go. Let’s support them all the way as they go for gold.
Laban Pilipinas!
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