They had puso but someone lost utak

Before anything, a belated birthday greeting to my daughter Ana who turned 19 a few days ago.  I really missed the days when I used to carry you on my arms.  My little princess has grown and someday will be someone’s queen.  I’ll say this again.  If that someone breaks your heart, I’ll break his neck.  This is a statement, not a threat.  Bahala na mo if you won’t take me seriously.

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Since August of last year, this P-Noy burdened republic rode on the crest of a tsunami called Gilas Pilipinas.  We enjoyed the ride and even rejoiced on our almost-won (as in lost) games at Spain during the FIBA Worlds.

All good things come to their end.  The joyride crashed with such force that majority of this basketball-addicted country had opinions varying from the forgiving to the vilifying.  If you read between the lines from the comments and reports, they range from having statues erected for the team to the more extremely ridiculous crucifying and beheading.

This time, the national basketball team, wrapped in a really thick blanket of hype, went to Inchon, South Korea for the 17th Asian Games targeting a podium finish.  Oh yes, they did finish, not on the podium, but in 7th place.  So what happened?

It cannot be denied that Chot Reyes is one of the country’s best basketball coaches.  He has several PBA championships in his collection plus coach of the year awards.  Reportedly, Coach Chot also is a good motivational speaker.  He definitely has the right and valid credentials to handle the Gilas.

Let me focus on this Korean excursion.  It was again a could have, would have situation.  All their games were winnable, considering opinions given by basketball experts that this assembly was the strongest ever.  There was even one foreign coach who remarked that the Gilas can go all the way to the gold even without a naturalized reinforcement.  Personally, an all-native squad is ideal with the present generation awash with talents from the school leagues.

Well, we didn’t walk the talk but instead let several won games slip from our grasp.  There were games that we were ahead by as much as18 points at the end of the third quarter.  The final quarter had been a flop, to say the least that fellow sportswriter Mike Limpag, on his FB post stated that FIBA should consider a rule change where games can be decided in the third quarter.  The fourth quarter will just be for shooting and dunking exhibitions.

There was the benching of Marcus Douthit for disciplinary reasons.  Admittedly, Douthit seemed lost during that Qatar game that had he played well, oh, whatever.  He was then blamed by his coach for the defeat and even declared that Douthit can go home.   That was an epic moment for childish tantrums for Chot.  Benching the most important member of a team at a very crucial game was downright stupid.  Where’s the logic of being a great motivator if he can’t squeeze the remaining talents out of our instant Filipino to whom we spend an obscene amount of money on.

The team had several coaching consultants including a foreigner with a good resume.  I can’t believe no one ever dared tell Chot not to bench Douthit or call out lapses on his judgements.  He doesn’t listen to suggestions or he only listens to his son?  I really am not familiar with the younger Reyes’ basketball background so I rather not say more.

In several cases, we tended to go small.  What’s the point in having Junemar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar on the team if they’ll be seeing action only in garbage time?  Along with Douthit, Marc Pingris and Ranidel de Ocampo, these two can be rotated at the 4 and 5.   Maybe the logic he’s using was three six-footers are better than two almost-seven footers.  Like as in three six footers equals to 18 feet compared to two seven footers equalling only to 14 feet.  Oh my freaking goodness.

I had no beef with the players.  They all did their best.  I also have no beef with Coach Chot as obviously, he also did his best.  As proof, the respected names in Philippine basketball still have their confidence and trust in him and like it or not, specially the Chot haters, Reyes still and will be the one calling the shots for the Gilas until someone else comes along for the ride.  Yup, we had puso but there are times we forget our utak.

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This is a bit late but let me congratulate members of Tri Liloan who made podium finishes at the recent Hunat Sugbo Triathlon Series held at Argao, Cebu.   Donray Noval topped the 18-24 years old category as well as Wilmar Saavedra in the 25-29 category.  Tri Liloan’s all-male relay with Reylan Lapiz and Manuel Apoya Jr. placed  2nd while in the mixed relay, Tri Liloan’s Boblyle Balverde, Ralph Vincent Ruiz and Lucille Ruiz place third.  Job well done guys!

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I hope the organizers of that Green Loop thing also consider the ire and inconvenience resulting from their experiment last Sunday.  Pedestrians, skaters and bicyclists were invading the designated lanes merrily watching the agony of motorists stuck in traffic on the other lane.  Things must be properly laid in place and all areas of concern covered.  How?  It’s your idea, go figure.  The sights and sounds of Cebu traffic is getting bad.  Address the matter, if not, better have a green rope looped around your necks.  Stalled in an almost motionless vehicle for two hours is not my idea of road sharing.