Losing and getting mocked for it is a tough pill to swallow.
The match between Gilas Pilipinas and Cambodia in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games’ men’s basketball tournament caused a stir across the Philippines. Here are the reasons why:
- Cambodia defeated the Philippines for the first time since the Stone Age.
- Cambodia fielded six naturalized players.
- Cambodian coach Harry Savaya talked a lot of trash, and called a late timeout with the game already decided.
The timeout with 20 seconds left was the last straw for Gilas assistant coach Tim Cone. As a result, the legendary PBA tactician tried confronting Savaya after the game to call out the latter’s supposed disrespectful antics, which also included doing the "night, night" gesture.
In a recent YouTube upload on the channel of the PBA Motoclub, former Barangay Ginebra San Miguel superstar Jayjay Helterbrand gave his two cents on the matter involving Cone, who was his coach before he retired from the PBA.
“Talo tayo, huwag na tayong makipag-away. Kung ayaw nilang mangyari ‘yun, e 'di huwag tayong magpatalo,” Helterbrand said.
Head coach Chot Reyes earlier blasted Savaya's antics, citing ethics.
Helterbrand, one-half of the famed "Fast and the Furious" duo, acknowledged the off-putting behavior of the Cambodian side, but he thought that Gilas still should have carried themselves more professionally.
“That’s international, man. We have to show professionalism. Kung ‘yan ang ginawa nila [Cambodia], sige, hayaan mo na," he said. "Wala na tayong magagawa, it’s not going to change anything.”
The 2009 MVP did try to look into the situation through the lens of Reyes and Cone, but he ultimately believes that Savaya's acts didn't warrant a confrontation.
“Baka feeling ni Coach Tim, disrespectful ‘yung ginawa nila. Pero, I don’t know, parang mababaw,” The six-time PBA champion explained.
It would be quite interesting to know what Coach Tim’s response would be to his former player’s pronouncements.
For now, however, Cone is preoccupied by the SEA Games campaign, as the Philippines prepares to face either Thailand or defending champion Indonesia in the semifinals.
(GM)