GILAS is PBA but is it Vice Versa?

For us Gilas fans we want to believe that this 3.0 version of our Senior Men's Basketball team has overachieved. Of course the gold was just one win away. Or maybe a perfect shooting night away. Or let's say a perfect freethrow shooting night away (how many bricks did we throw at the 15-foot line, at least 11 right?).

Sayang. Such a word that translates into rants and revelries over at various FIBA and Gilas-related social media pages. A lot not being able to move on, yet. And definitely the easiest scapegoat we have is the unfair officiating and some home cooking by the host. True. But putting a lot of our energies into it won't change the results. Even FIBA won't investigate whatsoever, there's no such thing.

About time we bury the hatchet. And look at the things about to unfold. And that's the imminent 41st PBA season.

So ano mapapala ng PBA sa resulta ng Gilas 3.0?

It's a double-edged effect. Gilas 3.0 save for Andray Blatche are all PBA players. Definitely it bodes well for the PBA. These players have somehow increased their stocks. Bigyan ang mga 'to ng saktong pahinga, sabak na uli sila sa mga mother clubs nila. Ang maganda n'yan paniguradong may dagdag na kaalaman at disiplina ang bawat Gilas player sa kanyang pagbalik sa mother club. And that's definitely good for the ballclub. At the same time we expect the fans to follow these Gilas players to their respective clubs. Kahit nga si Blatche malamang susubaybayan natin yan pagbalik niya ng CBA. Sana naman eh wag siyang alipustain ng nga tsinong inis pa din sa Gilas.

Suma tutal, off-hand, dahil naka-Silver tayo ng magkasunod na Fiba Asia, maganda yung epekto nito sa PBA. Sasabihin ng mga outsiders: "These Filipinos have a quality pro league".

Subalit, datapwat.

Ilang araw lang matapos ang Asian Championships, eh ano 'tong hindi magandang impressions patungkol sa PBA. Dumagundong yung social media nung pasalamatan ni SBP Vice Prexy Ricky Vargas ang lahat ng PBA ballclubs na nagpahiram ng players. Except yung Purefoods Star Hotshots ng San Miguel Corporation. Sa halip eh si Pingris binanggit. Ang akala ko pa nga eh yung Eat Bulaga o ang TAPE Inc ang papasalamatan sa pagpapahiram.

And the biggest news is when MVP's stewardship of the SBP has finally come to an end. Matagal tagal na rin nga naman siyang nagsilbi sa federacion (yung basketball federation pa rin po pinaguusapan ha). At mas nakakabahala din d'yan eh yung kinaiinisan nating mga basketball fans noong panahong watak-watak, hindi magkaisa, at pansariling interes ang pinaiiral ang nangingibabaw sa iilang basketball stakeholders. Sabi nga ng marami, ano't tila bagang paurong yata ang kilos ng samahan. We are definitely back in the global hoops conversation. We just had back-to-back silver medal hardware achievements in Fiba Asia. At kung sasangguni uli tayo sa mga pantas sa kanto, ito rin ang kanilang sasabihin: "Nasa malambot na kama na eh, gusto mo pa ring bumalik sa papag!"

Masarap ngang tanungin uli: Ang PBA ba ay Gilas? When our children do good and make achievements, the usual yabang reaction from parents would be: "Anak ko yan!" And oftentimes these children are asked, "Sino magulang mo?"

Same thing with the PBA. The world has been watching us the moment we set our foot back to the World Cup of Basketball. When Alapag went unconscious to hit those pull-up threes, and Tenorio marvelled scouts with his smarts, or Gabe flushing it home with no less than Luis Scola as his props, the world kept asking: "Who are these guys?" Kaninong mga anak 'to? Saan 'to naglalaro. Bigyan ng jacket yan!

Is the PBA saying the same lines like parents proud of their children, "These are my players!" Watch out because, in the next global stage, I'll send you more of my children. I have more. I have very good and talented children.

Mga ka-fans, eto yung gusto natin marinig sa PBA sa puntong ito. Hindi lang press release ang pagsuporta sa Gilas. Kundi yung maipadama sa isip, sa salita at sa gawa yung kanyang pagsuporta para sa bayan. Na mismo tayong fans ay agad-agad na huhugot ng linya sa matagal nang avid PBA advertiser na Motolite, at sabay-sabay na sumigaw: "Kumbinsing!"

Ilang tulog nalang at simula na ng panibagong PBA season. Galit-galit na naman uli ang mga Gilas fans. Pero weird, kasi parang lahat pa din magkakampi. At magkakasama pa din na nagtatampo sa kanyang minamahal na PBA. Wag naman masyado. Nag-cooperate pa din naman ang PBA diba? But if we borrow words from the classic Lino Brocka film, it perfectly articulates what fans wanted to express: "Nagpahiram Ka Ngunit Kulang".

Sana nga magawan ng paraan. We hope the PBA builds and starts from the success that Gilas has achieved so far. There's no way for us to go but up. In the end the PBA will benefit so much from Gilas. We hope they really consider fixing their calendar with the national team in mind, with the Gilas/PBA fans in their thoughts. Sana magbasabasa din sila madalas sa social media at tanungin ang sarili nila: "Ano ba gusto ng mga fans?"

Baka naiipit lang ng "sitwasyon" yung pamunuan o kabuuan ng PBA nitong nakaraan, at sa ngayon. Malamang malaking bagay nga na masolusyunan yung gusot sa SBP. Dalangin natin na maging matiwasay ang transitions.

Am pretty sure, the PBA, deep in the recesses of its heart would always claim and tell its Gilas children: "I'm proud you my sons! Tara, magpapa-burger ako!"



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