IF we lost last night (Tuesday), no surprise there. If we won, that would be a miracle.
No surprise because Italy was heavily favored to defeat Gilas. That’s because Italy is ranked No. 10 in the world against Gilas’s modest rating of 40th.
A miracle because, obviously, Gilas wasn’t supposed to win.
But then again, anything is possible. In sports, shockers are actually a dime a dozen.
Didn’t we not upend New Zealand, 1-0, in the just-ended Fifa (Football International Federation) Women’s World Cup—a first win for us in our baptism of fire in Fifa play?
And didn’t Spain upset the heavily-favored England to win its first Fifa World Women’s Cup?
Closer to home, Dominican Republic dumped Italy in our four-nation Group A that also include Gilas and Angola.
In that stunning development, Dominican Republic’s 97-82 win over Italy suddenly gave DR stage leadership at 2-0.
Before that, Gilas presented Dominican Republic a huge scare in their encounter serving as opener of the Fiba World Cup in men’s basketball.
A slew of errors in the endgame triggered Gilas’s unfortunate downfall en route to dropping an 87-81 decision to Dominican Republic.
That heart-breaking defeat on August 25 at the cavernous Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan, drew 38,115 spectators, breaking the old mark of 32,616 set in the 1994 Fiba World Cup in Toronto, Canada.
OK, you want more trivia?
The United States routed Russia, 137-91, that day, with National Basketball Association stalwarts Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller and Dominique Wilkins, among others, spearheading the American assault.
In our second Fiba game Sunday, we flirted with victory after we led Angola by 11 points, 28-17, with seven minutes left in the second quarter.
With that, a huge opportunity at redeeming ourselves had handsomely presented itself following that unacceptable loss to Dominican Republic.
Sadly though, Gilas let it slip away, our double-digit lead vanishing in one fell swoop as we practically self-destructe d amid turnovers and a meek defense when Angola started escalating its blinding fastbreak offense.
There were issues valid and not. Like, why was 7-foot-3 Kai Sotto benched after only a 73-second stint on the floor in the game against Dominican Republic, where CJ Perez was also left glued to the bench for the entire game?
Thus, if we failed to beat Italy last night, Gilas coach Chot Reyes will most likely be bashed once again. But it is what it is. Losers are left to lick their wounds alone—in that lonely and darkened corner.
THAT’S IT Condolences to the loved ones of Rey Gamboa, who had passed on August 25 at the age of 81 after a heart attack. My sympathies also go to famed singer-composer Pao Santos, who lost his father-in-law to cancer.
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