Thrilla in Sevilla

SEVILLE – Someone called it the “Thrilla in Sevilla,” that nerve-wracker of a game between the Philippines and Croatia to open Group B hostilities at the FIBA World Cup in this Spanish city last Saturday. Oddsmakers took a smack on the mouth as Croatia barely won, 81-78, in overtime when before the contest, the point spread was forecast to be at least 24 points.

Whether Croatia was prepared or not is irrelevant. The important thing was the Philippines was ready to fight from the first to the last round. The contest unexpectedly took 45 minutes to finish and Croatia led through 38:34. Croatia’s biggest lead was 15. The Philippines took over the driver’s seat in the fourth period and led for only 59 seconds by as much as three. The difference in time was taken up by eight ties.

Gilas had the chance to ice it down the stretch with the score tied, 71-all, on the last possession. Jayson Castro could’ve driven strong to the hole and drawn contact. Croatia was in the penalty after all. But there was absolutely no daylight for Castro in going for the shot so he opted to pass off to Jeff Chan. The clock was about to run out when Chan uncorked an off-balance quartercourt shot that missed.

In extension, Andray Blatche sank a triple to trim the deficit to one with less than eight ticks left. Croatia’s Damjan Rudez knocked down two foul shots then Castro raced for the triple try only to fire a blank at the buzzer. The referees didn’t call the contact on Castro as he drove in, presumably because his path wasn’t impeded anyway. They also didn’t call the apparent contact on Castro attempting a shot as he fell.

For the Philippines to even get a chance to win it in regulation was a feat. Gilas’ average height is 6-4, four inches less than Croatia’s norm. Croatia showed up with five NBA draft picks and two are signed for this season – 6-8 Bojan Bogdanovic of the Brooklyn Nets and 6-8 Rudez of the Indiana Pacers. As if on cue, the pair combined for 30 points against Gilas. Another NBA prospect Dario Saric, a 6-9 forward, finished with 10 points before fouling out. Saric, 20, was picked on the first round by Orlando in this year’s draft then was traded to Philadelphia. He signed a three-year deal to play in the Turkish league instead but the Sixers retain his playing rights.

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The day after facing Croatia, the Philippines took on Greece. It was like jumping from the frying pan to the fire. Croatia was fourth in last year’s FIBA Eurobasket and Greece is ranked No. 5 in the world. Like Croatia, Greece boasts of five NBA draft picks and three will play this season, Kostas Papanikolaou of the Houston Rockets, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Nick Calathes of the Memphis Grizzlies. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Croatia took home the silver medal. At the 2006 World Cup, Greece claimed the silver medal. Both countries are considered legitimate global basketball powers.

Despite the glowing credentials of their opponents, Gilas was far from awed or intimidated. Jimmy Alapag went up for a triple against Croatia’s Roko Ukic who has played for Toronto and Milwaukee in the NBA and hit a four-point play. L. A. Tenorio gave up 10 inches to Calathes in their matchup but was never afraid to mix it up.

Greece had just wiped out Senegal by 23 points with 13-of-24 triples and was tipped to dispose of the Philippines easily behind three seven-footers. Gilas, however, didn’t go away without a fight. With Blatche leading the charge, the Philippines went down slugging as Greece won, 82-70.

While Croatia and Greece deserved to win, the games will be remembered more for how the Philippines played with heart. And for Gilas, that’s the story right there. More than ever, the dictum of how you play the game comes to mind regardless of the outcome. The Filipino fans in the stands came from all over the world to cheer Gilas in the game they love with a passion. Some came from Dublin, others from Brussels and still some more from the US and Canada. Delegations from parts of Spain and different provinces in the Philippines were present and accounted for, too. There was no way Gilas would let them down with less than a whole-hearted effort.

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What the Philippines showed in the games against Croatia and Greece was Gilas’ competitiveness on the world stage. Those who doubted if the Philippines could even play within striking distance of those teams are now believers. No matter what place the Philippines winds up at the World Cup, it’s a sure thing that Gilas has gained the respect of the basketball world and the recognition of belonging to the elite club of global shakers.

“Well done, Gilas, well done, indeed,” said PLDT chairman/SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan after the heartbreaking loss to Croatia. “You’ve made us all very proud and grateful and with an element of surprise, impressed FIBA and the global basketball world, including Croatia. The Filipino heart was on the court for all to see, with no more proof needed that love for country animated our effort and our game. This view simply reflects the sense of the vast majority of our people back home, here in Spain and elsewhere in the world.

“The game against the Croats will be told over and over again hereafter and could eventually evolve into a legendary tale. From an historical perspective, it is one simple, small step forward after so many years of neglect, stupor and worse, resignation to our fate as a basketball doormat because of our size. We’ve injured those dragons, the task of killing them remains. And we have to do it. Whilst a great moral victory was undoubtedly achieved, it is one game statistically and it goes on the record books as a loss.

“Let’s remember these, too. Further, to stay grounded and not get lost in the euphoria of the moment, may I paraphrase Churchill referencing the successful Dunkirk evacuation of Allied soldiers in World War II by England. Wars are not won with feelings or perception or moral victories. They simply must be won. Finally, while I’m at it, Robert Frost should remind us that there are miles to go before we sleep. God bless Gilas. God bless the Philippines.”