Many of them didn't hold back.
The Philippines woke up to startling news on Friday after it was announced that Gilas Pilipinas forward Justin Brownlee failed a doping test in the recently concluded Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
While nothing is categorically final yet, as Brownlee can appeal his case, fans couldn't help but express their various reactions on social media. While there were, as expected, some trolls, the majority of the posts were in support of the embattled Brownlee.
His sample "returned an adverse analytical finding for carboxy-THC, a specified prohibited substance," according to the International Testing Agency. Carboxy-THC is usually linked to cannabis use.
Many curious netizens, however, questioned the development. Naturally, an easy target for them was China, which hosted the Asian Games and lost to Gilas Pilipinas in the semifinals after Brownlee's magical performance for the ages. Not a few posited that China is still bitter about the defeat.
Other also noted that Jordan's Sam Bzai failed his doping test as well. Jordan finished as runner-up to the Philippines. If the two countries are both forced to forfeit their medals, China could end up as the champion.
One fan, meanwhile, urged the backers of Gilas Pilipinas to not leave Brownlee in arguably the biggest controversy in his career.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Bambol Tolentino told News5 that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is already looking into Brownlee's medication for his bone spurs.
Amid all the speculations, one netizen probably summed it up best.
As of writing, the SBP has yet to release a statement.
(With reports from News5)