Paper tiger

Gilas Pilipinas stood no chance against Latvia in the Olympic qualifiers. On paper. The European country is ranked world number 6, the Filipinos number 37. But on court the marvelous team abandoned the script of foregone conclusion and confused the host nation.

They dominated from start to finish, even leading by 26. A late Latvian surge was just that, late. The Philippine team never looked back, although the Filipino people should not. They should always remember the lessons of the past to understand its present and prepare for the future.

Justin Brownlee proved he deserved to be naturalized with his rimless treys. Despite nationality shift, he sure remembers his origin and childhood. Had he been late registered, his memory would have failed him every single time. He stole the hearts of many, not someone else’s identity.

Homegrown Kai Sotto has no problem with his identity. The prodigy is every 7 feet and 3 inch a Filipino, although his height is one of a kind in a country of short people with shorter memory. But he may need to change his name to Sky, after he served notice he can fly, punctuated by that reverse dunk.

After the Filipinos stunned the higher-ranked Latvia, they lost to the lower-ranked Georgia. In yet another proof ranking is just a number, no matter how huge. Despite the 2-point loss to the world number 23, the Filipinos technically won by point system to book a ticket to the semis.

But while Gilas stunned, tamed and humbled Latvia, it could not solve the puzzle of Brazil that reasserted its head-to-head supremacy to 5-0 against the Philippines. It could not find the missing piece while it played missing a piece of its own. Kai Sotto sat out the remaining time against Georgia on a suspected rib injury after a quarter of a ton Georgian center crash landed on his core. Even if the Filipino stilt bulked up with a 20-pound muscle, his young body could not cushion the impact of a mammoth landfall.

Without Kai, Gilas still brought its damaging form against Brazil to win the first half, 33-27. But that was it, one-half. The battle may be half-won but never won. The Brazilians waxed Justin Brownlee almost empty, shaved his numbers to 15 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists, way below his tournament statistics, in masterful shredding to pieces of the Philippine masterpiece.

The country beat number 6 Latvia by 9 points but lost to number 23 Georgia by just 2 points and finally lost to number 12 Brazil by 11 points. Prior ranking is one thing, actual scoring is the only thing.

And yet again, the country ended its almost there journey to Olympic basketball. The one sport Filipinos are most at home with. Even if it doesn’t fit. Just as they are happy at home. Even if it is not the ideal destination after a day of struggle to stay away from their final destination.