Palace to Gilas bashers: Be supportive

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos who continue to criticize Gilas Pilipinas should instead support the national basketball team in the ongoing FIBA World Cup, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said there are still a lot of reasons to cheer for the national cagers despite them failing to win any of their first three games.

Coloma praised Gilas for still managing to give a good fight against their foes, who are notably bigger in size and higher in global rankings.

"Tunay na kahanga-hanga ang ipinapakitang husay at tapang ng mga manlalarong Pilipino bagama't kalaban nila'y higit na malaki at matangkad na mga manlalaro," Coloma said at a televised briefing.

"Kapansin-pansin ang matatag na laro ng mga Pilipino na kasalukuyan ay nasa rank 34 ng FIBA laban sa mas matatayog na pangkat," he also said.

The Palace official made the statements following Gilas' close fight early Tuesday against Argentina (ranked third in the world), which the Filipinos lost, 81-78.

Gilas also suffered a heartbreaking overtime 85-81 loss in the hands of Croatia (ranked 16th).

The national team was also defeated with a huge margin by Greece (ranked fifth), 82-70, but Coloma believes the Filipino players' performance in this game was not disgraceful.

The Palace official is hopeful that Gilas will win its next games against Puerto Rico and Senegal and advance to the next round of the tournament.

With its silver-medal finish in the FIBA Asia Championship in 2013, the Philippines returned to the basketball world stage after about four decades.

President Aquino said the international tilt is a great opportunity for Gilas to show the unyielding character of Filipinos

"Magandang pagkakataon para ipakita 'yung talento ng Pilipino, 'yung ugali natin na hindi tayo pasukong tao," Aquino said in an interview with Bombo Radyo last week.

"'Yung puso, 'yung ambisyon, at 'yung pagsusumikap tungo doon sa ambisyon na 'yon... Talagang pinagsumikapan natin at 'yon sana makita natin sa performance ng Gilas," he added.