At journey’s end

Wednesday night, at almost midnight, our athletes arrived from the 14th Asian Games weary, but satisfied. After all, what other tack could they take in the face of the huge odds against them going to South Korea?

The late night crowds that flocked to the airport exit were mainly there to greet Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski for bringing back the only individual gold medal from the Asian Games, in equestrian, and to meet the basketball team.

The wives and girlfriends of the players lined up behind a huge banner that almost covered them entirely. It said "We’re proud of you for giving your best shot." Something the players no doubt needed.

Like road-weary travelers, the players filed somberly out of the terminal, into the warm, longing embraces of those who loved them the most, nursing their bruised egos, and receiving the assurance that they perhaps will not get from disappointed countrymen.

"Nothing went wrong," head coach Jong Uichico declared. "South Korea hit the shots at the end and we didn’t. It was some little things that could have gone either way. I have no regrets. My only regret is not bringing home a gold medal, or any medal."

I asked Jong if he would do it again.

"No," he quickly replied. "It was a fulfilling experience. I was hesitant to doing it. But now, I have no regrets in doing it. Bragging aside, I think I’ve become a better coach. I learned how to deal with players other than my own. I learned how to play with other countries. We were not only representing the fans of San Miguel, but the fans from all over the Philippines."

One of the last to exit the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was Olsen Racela, who was obviously still disturbed by the two missed free throws that many feel separated us from a silver medal. Prior to the Asian Games, Racela was known as the best free throw shooter on the team.

"I would like to apologize to the Filipino people," he said haltingly.

"Every player dreams of being in that position. And I was in that position to win the game. But I missed them. I still think about it." He silently shuffled away from the lights and cameras.

Asi Taulava, the team’s starting center who proved his ability to stand up against some of the best players in the region, summed up the experience of playing against China’s Yao Ming, the NBA’s top draft pick.

"It was like playing against a tree," he said, bursting into a laugh. "What can you do?"

"We had a chance to go into the finals, and they hit that big shot," he continued. "That could have been us. And they proved that China can be beaten. No regrets."

"He was really good," admits Jeff Cariaso. "He’s not just tall, but he’s strong. He posts up well, seals his man, and does a lot of things. Once he bulks up a little bit, he’ll be very hard to stop."

Perhaps the one person who was bouncy all throughout their trip was PBA Commissioner Jun Bernardino, who was very happy with how the boys did, despite not bringing home a medal.

"We’re very proud of the team’s performance," Bernardino said. "And it was not the missed free throws or anything else. It was South Korea hitting that three-point shot with one second to go."

"This also vindicates our decision to use amateur rules, and, hopefully, we will be able to do so. If we are called again to represent the country, we know what to do. Even with that kind of preparation, we can play with the best in the region."

One more point, as some members of the media are wont to savage the basketball team. It was not their job to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games. They were merely making up for the inadequacies of the Basketball Asociation of the Philippines, which has been unable to put together a full-time basketball team for international competition. The BAP says that they have problems with schools who do not lend their players, and players who ask for money. The culture is now one of profit, not pride.

But surely there must be another way to get the talent to do it. The Asian Games experience proves one thing: the system will always prevail over individual talent and athletic ability. Always. That is why even NBA players have trouble in international competition. They have gotten used to bullying their way to victory. But solid fundamentals and long-term preparation have overcome the alleged greatest players in the world.

Let’s fix the problem, not the blame.

And let’s thank the PBA for all the sacrifices it has made for the country. Let us thank Jong Uichico for all the risks he has taken in the name of the Philippines. And let us thank the players who risked their careers, their livelihood, and spent time away from their families to be big brothers for a sport which has no real father.

Success has a thousand fathers, but failure is an orphan.

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The full interview of the RP men’s basketball team will be shown on today’s episode of The Basketball Show on RPN 9 at 12 noon, along with the championship celebrations of Ateneo de Manila’s Blue Eagles and the Batang Red Bull Thunder. The Basketball Show is brought to you by Aqua Sweet purified drinking water.