De Ocampo, Gilas proud to play for OFW fans in Taiwan

MANILA, Philippines -- Although Gilas Pilipinas will be playing its fourth straight game in as many days in the William Jones Cup on Wednesday, forward Ranidel de Ocampo isn’t complaining at all, even if it would mean spending additional time with the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) at the Xinjuang Gymnasium in Taipei.

De Ocampo, who just recently recovered from a hamstring injury, said the presence of Filipinos fans at the gymnasium every game day is what pumps them up as they use the tournament to prepare for next month’s Fiba-Asia men’s championships.

“Proud kami lagi, basta para sa mga kababayan natin. Lagi kasi sila nandiyan kahit busy sila. Gumagawa sila ng paraan basta para sa Gilas,” De Ocampo told Philstar.com on Tuesday night.

The rugged Spartak-Primorye from Russia engaged Gilas in a physical match that saw big man Sonny Thoss suffer a cut above his head and a near free for all during the first quarter.

But De Ocampo, Dondon Hontiveros, along with first-time national players like Calvin Abueva, Moala Tautuaa, Terrence Romeo were all business from there, hitting the big shots and making big plays during the last three quarters to tow Gilas to an 85-71 win on Tuesday.

De Ocampo led Gilas with 13, including two booming triples in the last quarter that quelled the Russians’ last-gasp effort and handing the first defeat of their opponents after a 3-0 start.

“Ganun talaga ang basketball eh. Marunong sila (Russians) manakit, dapat marunong din sila tumanggap,” he added.

At the end of every game, De Ocampo said they don’t mind obliging the Filipino fans for photos and autographs, admitting that they serve as Gilas’ life blood in the tournament.

“Masaya naman sila kaya nag-spend kami ng time sa kanila (after the game),” said the 33-year-old Gilas ‘stretch four’.

They expect OFW fans to come in droves again when they will go for a second straight win against winless Japan at 3 p.m. Wednesday