Palace praises Gilas Pilipinas' 'grace' and 'flashes of brilliance' amid loss to Italy
MANILA, Philippines — Despite their blowout loss to Italy, players of Gilas Pilipinas deserve admiration for displaying "grace" and "flashes of brilliance" during their 2019 FIBA World Cup opening game, Malacañang said Sunday.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte watched "patiently" as the Filipino cagers fought their taller, bigger, shiftier and sharp-shooting Italians with their accurate three-point shots.
READ: Gilas botches ‘Italian Job’ up next is bigger, better Serbia
"In the end, we were outplayed and out-scored but not without displaying some flashes of brilliance, although few and far between. It's not always the winning that counts, it’s how the game is played," Panelo said in a statement.
"Our Filipino players played with grit and passion. And for that they deserve our admiration," he added.
LOOK: President Duterte watches Gilas Pilipinas' FIBA World Cup 2019 opening game vs Italy in Guangdong, China Saturday. Phl lost to Italy, 108-62 (Malacañang photos) @PhilippineStar@PhilstarNews pic.twitter.com/YELYaiR9Sq
— Alexis B. Romero (@alexisbromero) September 1, 2019
Italy routed the Philippines in the presence of Duterte during last Saturday's match at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center, 108-62. Duterte had predicted that the Philippines would bow to Italy but Malacañang said it was the president's way to challenge the Filipino players.
READ: Duterte says Gilas Pilipinas will lose in FIBA World Cup
Panelo, who also watched the game at Foshan, remains upbeat about Gilas Pilipinas' chances, saying Filipinos are used to dealing with adversity.
"In the face of adversity, we always triumph," Panelo said in a radio interview yesterday.
"That's life. The ball is round, just like the world... Let's watch out for the next chapter," he added.
READ: 'That's on me': Blatche takes blame after Gilas' blowout loss to Italy
Before the game, Duterte visited Gilas Pilipinas players in the locker room to wish them luck. He greeted the coaches and the players with a handshake and told them he really wanted to see the team after his official visit in Beijing.
“We are here — actually many congressmen and Filipinos, Chinese-Filipinos, are here - and we are here to give you the spirit to fight. We can do it," the president said.
“We will be praying for your victory. I'm just here. Just give your best and we will support you. Whatever it is. I am here for you," he added.
READ: Optimistic Robredo rallies behind Gilas
Duterte watched from the VIP deck of the sports center and waved at the Filipinos who were watching the game during the halftime break. China’s Vice President Wang Qishan was seated beside Duterte during the game.
Gilas Pilipinas will face Serbia next on Monday.
Monitor updates as Gilas Pilipinas competes in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Foshan, China.
Gilas Pilipinas finishes the 2019 FIBA World Cup group stage winless after falling to Angola in overtime, 84-81.
President Rodrigo Duterte "will personally cheer for Gilas Pilipinas in their scheduled game against the Italian team" on August 31 in Guangzhou, the Department of Foreign Affairs says in a pre-departure briefing at the Palace.
Duterte, who will be on his fifth visit to China, will "join our countrymen in supporting Gilas Pilpinas as they compete at the FIBA Basketball World Cup," the DFA also says.
Earlier this month, the president predicted how the Philippines will fare in the world torunament: "Wala, talo tayo, walang laban (There's a basketball tournament there... We will lose)."
"Sa China na lang tayo magpusta (Let's just place our bets on China)," he also said.
Vice President Leni Robredo says she is cheering for Gilas Pilipinas, which is competing in China for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, to the end, days after President Duterte said the Philippine team will lose.
"Sa akin, Ka Ely, ugali ng mga Pilipino na, 'di ba, habang may buhay may pag-asa. Alam natin kung gaano ka-grabe magtrabaho iyong ating mga players sa Gilas, tinitingnan natin na mga bayani na nagre-represent sa atin nang maayos na ang kailangan ngayon dahil haharap sa mga matitinding laban, ang kailangan suporta natin. Pampalakas ng loob," Robredo says in her radio program "BISErbisyong Leni" when asked about Duterte's comment on the Philippine team.
"Pero tayo, Ka Ely, tayong mga Pilipino, talagang parati naman tayong dehado sa lahat, pero pinapakita natin na kahit tayo dehado, lumalaban talaga tayo nang tunay. Kaya sa mga Gilas players, maraming salamat po sa pag-represent ninyo sa ating bansa. Proud kami sa inyo. Alam namin na ibubuhos ninyo lahat ng kaya ninyong gawin. Matalo man o manalo, nagpapasalamat na tayo."
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