No one cheated, technically.
A fitting end to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games campaign of Gilas Pilipinas' 3x3 team would have been a gold finish, especially considering Joseph Sedurifa’s dramatic game-winner against Thailand in the semifinals that propelled the Filipinos to the championship game.
But the SEA Games isn’t a sports movie. It’s real life.
And the reality is that in the finals, Gilas faced a Cambodian team that fielded three naturalized players from the United States. Too big, too fast, and too strong, the heavily reinforced host country defeated the Philippines, 20-15. Noticeably, despite the overwhelming physical disadvantage, Almond Vosotros and company were able to fight back and keep the final score respectable.
Gilas 3x3 coach Lester Del Rosario pointed out that they basically played against three American imports. The roster did have one homegrown Cambodian talent, but he didn’t even see action.
“We’re playing against Cambodia pero ‘yung pinaka-local nila, hindi naglaro. Dapat yata apat na lang [na naturalized] ‘yung nilagay nila,” Del Rosario told One Sports' Denise Tan.
Nonetheless, he was still able to put things in the right perspective.
“We played our best, talagang ganun. We surpassed the bronze medal last SEA games. At least, naka-silver tayo,” added Del Rosario.
Just to be clear, no one’s saying that in enlisting Darrin Dorsey (6-foot-2), Brandon Peterson (6-foot-8), and Sayeed Pridgett (6-foot-6), Cambodia breached any legalities.
“Actually, alam ko na for the SEA Games, puwede ‘yun,” Coach Lester admitted.
Also present in the men’s 3x3 gold medal game was Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes. The longtime national team strategist pointed out the main advantages of the Cambodians over the Filipino hoopers.
“Cambodia fielded three Americans who played really, really well. The Cambodians were just too good individually. I thought they had much better size, and better skilled overall,” Reyes said.
He then praised the silver medalists for not backing down despite the odds stacked against them.
“But our players really fought hard. We were just a couple of baskets from making this a different result,” Reyes added.
Mau Belen, coach of Vosotros and Flores with the TNT Triple Giga in the PBA 3x3, attributed the squad's misfortune to the breaks of the game.
"They made their shots, even the tough ones," Belen tweeted.
(GM)