DAVAO CITY — The Philippine basketball team that was sent to Jakarta, Indonesia for the Asian Games may have lacked time and preparation, but it is proving to the world that it has what it takes to compete in the international stage.
“Bagamat late na po ‘yung pagbubuo nito, ang panlaban talaga ng Pilipinas ay puso,” Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Bong Go said in an interview. (It was formed late, but the secret weapon of the Philippines is its heart.)
Go said he was extremely happy at the Philippine team’s huge 96-59 win over Kazakhstan the other day.
“Most likely po ay pasok po tayo sa quarter finals, and the team is very pumped up and high ang morale nila sa pagkapanalo nila laban sa matatangkad na Kazakhstan,” Go said.
(Most likely, our team will make it to the quarter finals. The team is very pumped up and has high morale because of their win against the tall players of Kazakhstan.)
Go said he is confident the Philippine team will put up a good fight especially with the addition of National Basketball Association (NBA) player Jordan Clarkson
With the Philippine team set to face the taller Chinese team on August 21, Go said he believes the Filipino basketball players can still pull some surprises.
Go was instrumental in sending a basketball team to the Asian Games after it was announced that the country’s basketball associations were not planning to form a basketball team that would represent Philippines.
Go talked separately to the chairmen of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) as well as with the owners of some basketball teams to ask them to reconsider.
The basketball associations ultimately relented and said they were fielding a team to the Asian Games. (PR)
