Remember those names. Today, they showed the fabled Pinoy "puso" on the court and made every Filipino proud.
This was a Filipina team that was lacking in a lot of things: height, experience, monetary support, an easy draw. But what they didn't lack was the determination of the Pinoy baller to overcome all those challenges.
Against the world's #6 team the Netherlands, the 58th ranked Filipinas kept it close in the early goings before succumbing to first game jitters that were also first tournament ever jitters. They may have lost 21-11 but they also lost their game nerves.
Which was why they really made world #17 Germany sweat it out in their second game. Several times, the Pinays pulled to within one but just couldn't get over the hump. Janine Pontejos actually had 2 open looks from the two to tie the game with 10 seconds left and narrowly missed each shot.
So yes, they did lose. But they fought gallantly and earned respect, if not the W. I have no doubt they will earnt that too in the near future.
No comments:
Post a Comment