MANILA, Philippines — League commissioner Willy Marcial came to the defense of the PBA-backed Gilas Pilipinas, which on Monday, bowed to China by 44 points, leading to the country’s worst-ever ninth place finish in the 20th Asian Games men’s basketball in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The amiable PBA Commissioner noted how big of a sacrifice the team has made in the national team’s quest to defend the Philippines’ Asian Games basketball championship.
“The players made a big sacrifice. I salute them for all that they have done for the country,” Marcial told the Manila Times in Filipino.
“People don’t see what the players have done behind the scenes.” Filipino basketball-crazy fans expressed their frustration on social media following the Philippines’ 105-61 shellacking at the hands of a vengeful China side at the close of the group stage Monday at the Aichi International Arena.
The 44-point beating sent the Philippines out of quarterfinal contention in the process as Gilas ended the group stage with a 1-2 record.
The Filipinos opened the tournament with an 85-89 loss to Bahrain, recovered by scoring a 109-78 rout of Kazakhstan before the 44-point defeat at the hands of the Chinese.
Despite the embarrassing ending and the national team’s failure to retain the Asian Games basketball gold, Marcial said the PBA remains steadfast in its support to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
“We’ve made all the adjustments already, but we, in the PBA, will continue to send all the support, all the help to SBP. If they need ballboys, we will send them. If they need players, or coaches, we will send them to support SBP also. Whatever help they need, we will help,” shared Marcial.
Marcial was on hand to support Gilas, along with some members of the PBA board of governors in Nagoya.
