How they play is a reflection of their chemistry on and off the court.
Numerous experts have noted that bronze medalists tend to become happier than those who win silver. Even athletes themselves have attested to this phenomenon.
It's simple, really. Second placers tend to hyper-focus on what they could have done better to clinch gold, while third placers are most likely happy just to be able to bring home a medal. It doesn't help that in most cases, the last match of the silver finishers are usually a loss to the gold medalists.
That wasn't the case for the Gilas Pilipinas Women, who were jumping and dancing after winning the silver medal in the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women's basketball on Monday. This is a team that won gold in the past two editions of the biennial meet, and settling for silver means losing the chance to have a golden three-peat. Yet, the mood in the dugout was festive.
One thing to be happy about is they won their last match in the six-day, round-robin tournament. And it's a revenge against Malaysia, who handed them their sole defeat in the previous SEA Games.
Another thing to celebrate is how they survived adversities, like team members battling multiple injuries during the tourney. Camille Clarin and Stefanie Berberabe both went down with the flu, hurting the team's rotations, while Afril Bernardino suffered a nose cut and an ankle injury in separate games.
But still, there's more to it. And an interview with two of the national team’s stalwarts underscored the special bond that allows the Gilas Women to hold their heads high.
Shooting guard Khate Castillo, who scored 22 points in the game against Vietnam, cited the trust given to her not only by her teammates but also by the head coach.
“’Yung mga open shots ko, kahit nagkakamali ako, nasisigawan ako ni Coach Pat [Aquino] pero sabi niya, ‘Ok lang ‘yan, bumawi ka.’ And kapag hindi ko naititira ‘yung mga open shots ko, sabi niya, ‘Itira mo kasi ‘yan ‘yung strength mo,’ she told One Sports' Denise Tan.
“Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam. Alam mo ‘yun? ‘Yung coach mo na mismo, hindi lang ‘yung teammates mo ‘yung nagbibigay sa’yo ng kumpiyansa tumira,” she added.
The scoring specialist touched on the massive importance of the tight-knit relationship within the team.
“Sobrang laking bagay ‘niyan kasi parang hindi lang kami teammates, family na kaming lahat dito,” the former De La Salle Lady Archer standout said.
Gilas mainstay Janine Pontejos further magnified her squad’s familial dynamics. One contributing factor to that is the ideal interaction between the veterans and the younger members.
“Lagi nga sinasabi ni Coach Pat na kami ‘yung mga senior. So, kailangan namin na i-guide ‘yung mga teammate namin na mas bata kasi mas marami kaming experience sa kanila,” the 30-year-old sharpshooter explained.
“Nakikinig naman sila. So, maganda ‘yung kinakalabasan ng game namin.”
Another key element is how each Gilas member serves as inspiration to one another, just like when Afril Bernardino got hurt a couple of times during the tourney.
“Sa Afril kasi kahit anong sakit ang nararamdaman niya, lumalaban siya. Doon din kami kumukuha ng lakas. Kung ano ‘yung nakikita namin sa kanya, gusto rin namin gayahin,” Pontejos revealed.
It’s rare to see a team that’s as cohesive as this group of young ladies, and fans hope they will continue to make the country proud in future international competitions.
In a few weeks' time, Gilas Women can show once again what they're made of, as they will bank on that unshakeable team chemistry once more in the FIBA Asia Cup, happening on June 26 to July 2.
(With reports from Denise Tan, One Sports)
(GM)