Basketball fans should not be too sensitive if President Rodrigo Duterte thinks the national basketball team does not stand a good chance against teams in the basketball World Cp set to start in a few days in China.
Given that the Philippines is as crazy about basketball as perhaps the world champion Americans, hopes of a good showing in the quadrennial meet is being entertained by not a few among basketball purists. There is always that sense of basketball pride among Filipinos that statistical records and sheer logic is swept aside when it comes to stints by the national squad known as Gilas PIlipinas.
President Duterte made a comment that the Philippines do not stand a chance against Italy which plays in the same group as the Gilas. The comment elicited brickbats from Pinoy hoop fans.
Should they be slighted? Some say the seemingly defeatist attitude apparently shown by the country’s leader is not good for the team’s morale. That is the interpretation of some. But there is also the good thing about putting things in the negative expression as it works as a challenge to strive even more. Instead of sulking in sorrow for the downplaying of our chances, the team must take the comment as a challenge in itself to rise above the odds.
Thus, the Gilas players must take the comment on the side but do what they need to win. That way, the motivation is to prove the President wrong.
There is nothing wrong in downplaying the chances. It only brings out the fire from the fiercest of competitors.
