Mother Spain

HEART. The Filipino heart still beats for Spain, which some writers call Mother Spain. This was shown during the game between Spain and France in the FIBA World Cup. Pinoy cage fans watching the game on tv in an uptown hotel--and even those in some sari-sari stores -- cheered for Spain and you could sense their sad reaction when Spain lost.

UNEXPECTED. Basketball experts had expected Spain to beat France easy. Reason: When France met Gilas Pilipinas in another tournament shortly before the World Cup, the Frence couldn't dispose of the Pinoys easily and yet some had called Gilas a lowly "sandlot" team.