The word was the cagers decided to shave their heads as soon as they’re assured of a seat in the semifinals of the 12-nation tournament. But Taulava and Seigle apparently couldn’t wait. Before the start of the quarterfinals, the pair paid the village barber a visit.
Their locks were gone as soon as they coughed up the equivalent of P500 each for the Michael Jordan look.
Nike Philippines’ Asiad correspondent Janelle So said unlike Samson who fell for Delilah, Taulava didn’t lose his strength when he lost his hair.
"Asi is as powerful as ever without his locks," wrote Janelle in an e-mail to The Star. "It wasn’t simply for vanity that Asi decided to chop all of it off. This was a gesture of support for injured teammate Danny Seigle. The bald look is Dynamite Danny’s signature look who despite his injury, flew here to Busan to cheer for his teammates."
Janelle said other Filipino players are scheduled for a trip to the barber shop.
"Watching the game between the Philippines and Japan made me realize that men are slowly discovering the salon, the science behind it and its benefits," continued Janelle. "Japanese players themselves have different hairstyles in different colors. Asi’s hair could have been the envy of these players. But no. Against Japan, the Rock came out to play sporting a newly-shaved head. Gone were the lovely locks that endeared him to us. Instead, this bald star literally shone at the Geumjeong gym."
As for the Philippines’ harrowing 79-74 win, Janelle described it as "scary" and "almost traumatic."
Janelle spoke to Tualava after the game and the Rock said: "We worked so hard for nine months. And to see it almost taken away from us, not by Japan, but by the bad officiating, we felt so bad for ourselves. Every time we made a run, a bad call would stop us."
But Taulava, Olsen Racela, and Jeffrey Cariaso–whom, Janelle quickly pointed out, are Nike athletes–made sure there would be no gnashing of teeth. "Birthday kasi ng anak ko," Racela, who hit 3-of-4 treys and finished with 13 points, told Janelle. "I called him this morning and told him I was going to give him a three-point shot. I knew it would be the biggest three-point shot of my career." Racela’s crucial triple shoved the Philippines to the driver’s seat, 74-73, with less than two minutes left and sent Japan into a panic. It was the perfect gift for his son Rafael who turned four that day.
Taulava finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in a monster showing. Cariaso hit 14 points and fished hotshot Takahiko Orimo’s fifth foul to convert a three-point play that iced the contest with 33 ticks to go.
Cariaso told Janelle his focus was to stop Orimo from bailing out Japan in the end. "I tried my best to guard him because he was really on fire," said Cariaso. Orimo shot 33 points but only 12 in the second half when Cariaso stuck to him like glue.
When the final buzzer sounded, Janelle said there was a "terrific" sense of pride in the air. "And to show appreciation for the hard-working players, the Philippine cheering squad waited with bated breath outside the gym," added Janelle. "They treated the team and other well-wishers to an impressive cheering routine to cap the victory."
The day of the Philippines’ win over Japan, national coach Joseph Uichico’s father Tony and wife Cathy arrived in Busan from Manila. They were with Cariaso’s wife Michelle.
Assistant coach Eric Altamirano’s wife Marissa, who stayed home to lead the basketball team’s "Prayer Warriors," said Somebody up there made the difference in the game against Japan.
"God is on our side," she said. "We were down by eight with six minutes left and it didn’t look good. But we won, thanks to all our prayers. God listens."
Before each game, Marissa texts the players’ wives, friends, relatives and fans to pray. Some pray at home, others go to church.
There’s a particular verse from Matthew, Chapter 18, verse 19, in the Bible that Marissa often quotes in her text messages to the "Prayer Warriors": "I tell that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, will be done for you by My Father in heaven for where two or three come together in My name, I am there."
Marissa, incidentally, is the daughter of the late journalist Louie Beltran and sister of TV talk show host Cito Beltran.
Every night, Marissa said her husband phones from Busan.
"Eric tells me it’s a different feeling out there," she related to The Star. "Sobra ang maturity level ng mga players. They work so hard like they’ve never worked so hard before. They know it’s for the country, kasi. Nakakataba ng puso. They work together, they stay together, they pray together. Their attitude is something to be proud of."