One hundred eighteen to eighty six (118-86).
A difference of thirty two whopping points. This was the final tally of the do or die game between the Philippines and South Korea in the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup in Beirut, Lebanon.
Although nothing was at stake save for prestige and ego, the Filipinos were mercilessly beaten like they were a mere barangay team. Compared to its first game in the qualifying round where Coach Chot Reyes’ boys soundly thumped China, South Korea stamped its unmistakable superiority over the Philippines, thus earning us the tag of the Koreans’ favorite whipping boys.
(China not incidentally did not send its Team A to the tournament because the 2016 FIBA Asia Cup is not a qualifier for the Olympics nor for the World Basketball Championship.)
Those who stayed up late till past midnight to watch the live telecast were visibly disappointed as the Koreans made mincemeat of Gilas’ defense, tossing in 16 triples muted a huge crowd of stunned OFWs cheering for the Gilas squad.
There should be no excuses nor alibis for this very embarrassing defeat.
Most basketball fanatics may not like what they will read here but I will say it nonetheless.
Undoubtedly, South Korean basketball standards are higher than ours.
Players aspiring to become members of any Korean national team are subjected to strict training regimen and soldierly discipline that is almost close to perfection. Did you see how accurate their three-point shooting was as just about everyone on the floor who flipped from beyond arc connected?
I have seen how Korean athletes train not only in basketball but even in other disciplines. I have also interviewed Korean coaches. If Filipinos train for 8 hours, Koreans train for twice that long and twice that hard. Korean coaches and their staff also make sure national team aspirants complete their training regimen to the letter until the desired results are achieved.
Thus, we see Korean players winning golds in the Olympics (shooting, archery, swimming, athletics etc.) and other international sportsfests.
Do you know that they also export baseball talents to play in the American Major League?
We have a different approach, starkly below the South Korean standards. Ironically or not, basketball is not even a major discipline in SK compared to baseball, football, archery, taekwondo and golf.
While they (South Koreans) put honest emphasis on sports where they can comparatively compete against the world’s best and win, our sports leaders and officials are divided and more consumed first with politics and corrupt practices.
Remember that PSC Chair Butch Ramirez has been castigating officials of the Philippine Olympic Committee and the various NSAs (national sports associations) who have, until today, failed to liquidate the monies given them during the country’s hosting of the 2005 SEAG.
Our sports leaders must choose which sports disciplines can bring glory and honor to the country without wasting huge taxpayers’ money.
Our success depends upon how judiciously money is allotted and not just given away as loosely as it has been.
So, while only the Gilas’ ego was bruised in its last defeat to the SoKors, the loss clearly pointed to the fact that our preparations are insufficient and short-sighted.
This has been the prevailing culture, not only in the sports field but in many areas of Philippine endeavor. If this is so, let us not expect too much of our Filipino athletes when the country hosts the 2019 SEAG here. (The turnaround to stage the biennial competitions surprised this corner as previous pronouncements by Ramirez said otherwise.)
At any rate, the unexpected humiliating setback to SK however painful must be the over-riding lesson to bear with and learn. (Email your feedback to fredlumba@yahoo.com.) Gen. 1:3: “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” GOD BLESS THE PHILIPPINES!
