THIS past year, the Filipinos have had to accept harsh realities. For Filipino hoop fans, it's a double-edged sword that Tab Baldwin is gone as coach of the Gilas national team, and with it, his vision of a well-prepared, cohesive team that can practice extensively without the constraints of the PBA calendar. In short, the PBA owns Gilas again, and the "hugot" system is back.
As we come to terms with this development, we need to hold the PBA accountable, specifically with their knee-jerk reactions to the tough losses Gilas incurred in the FIBA Asia Cup. Our Chot Reyes-coached team did not make the top eight, yet another "milestone" in the year we also lost to Indonesia for Southeast Asian basketball bragging rights. For our rabid Pinoy brothers who love the online "bardagulan" in the FIBA websites, this hurts deeply.
Continue reading with one of these options:
Ad-free access
P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
- Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
- Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)