Gilas Loses To Chinese Taipei, 79-84!

It hurts.

13 point lead in the 3rd, Jones Cup invite being rescinded, repeatedly humiliated politically despite our apologies...All these came into play as the Filipino natin mourn tonight's loss.

But despite the loss, I am not among the many Filipinos who are embittered by this.

Why? For three reasons.

Halftime: Gilas Leads Chinese Taipei 43-42!

Gilas got off to a bad start once again, aided by some hot three point shooting by the Taiwanese.

But the Filipinos regained their bearings int he second quarter, thanks to some stout defense from Japeth Aguilar and some sterling shooting from Jimmy Alapag.

Gilas seems to be getting into their groove and all they need to do now is continue playing the way they did in the second quarter for them to defeat Chinese Taipei.

Gilas Wins Over Jordan 77-71!

It started out much like yesterday's game. Gilas seemed sluggish, out of sync and overly conscious of their offensive sets, leading to hesitant playmaking and overpassing. On defense, they were no better, fouling randomly and at the most inopportune time.

Then, something else happened.

GILAS vs KSA: Some Thoughts

Last night's win over KSA was not as satisfying as it could have been. Still, a win is a win and, as Coach Chot said, the real battle starts today.

Here are three thoughts on what happened in the KSA game and what we can do moving forward.

Lack of scouting. The Gilas staff admitted that they knew next to nothing about the KSA team and thus, were not prepared for the hard pressing, long, athletic, hustling-for-every-loose-ball, driving-at-every-opportunity bunch that played like they had nothing to loose. Gilas had no answers because, until then, they didn't enough know what the exam was about. Moving forward, with the internet in play, our strategic alliances (like with Coach Tab) as well as OFWs in every corner of the globe, I'm sure there was a way to get even just one tape of the Saudis. I mean, they had to play in the qualifying round, right? If we can get tapes of the other Arab teams, we should be able to get our hands on even just one KSA tape.

Gilas Wins Over KSA, 78-66

It was a win but man...it was ugly.

Down by 13 with 50 seconds left, the Saudi players were all sporting big grins. On the other hand, the Gilas players were grim, stone faced and steely eyed.

The Saudis knew they won a more important battle: the one for respect. And that is exactly what Gilas lost tonight...respect

Now, Chinese-Taipei knows how they can beat Gilas. Jordan knows how too. Saudi Arabia showed them how and it was bloody simple. Press them into turnovers. Drive against them and bait them into fouling. Repeat.

Gilas HAS to play better tomorrow. If they don't, it's going to be a bloody debacle.

HALFTIME: GILAS 35, KSA 28!

Who woulda thunk?

In what is rapidly turning into a worrisome affair, Gilas is barely hanging on to a 7 point lead at halftime, after a spirited display by the supposedly weak Saudis.

Everyone from the media, the players and even the coaching staff (who really should have known better) were one in looking past the Saudis (even if they said they weren't).

Come on. We were all already thinking about Jordan and Chinese Taipei. Let's be honest about that, if nothing else.