CHANGSHA – Inamin ng Gilas Pilipinas coaching staff na nabigo silang tapatan ang kahusayan ng Chinese team sa kanilang gold medal game para sa nakatayang tiket sa 2016 Olympic Games.
“We’re not thinking about who’s not here, what’s not here and what’s missing. We’re thinking about we had an opportunity and we didn’t measure up for whatever reasons and there’s plenty,” sabi ni head coach Tab Baldwin.
Sinabi pa ni Baldwin na kailangang gumanda pa ang paglalaro ng Gilas at nararamdaman niya itong mangyayari matapos ang back-to-back second-place finishes sa FIBA Asia Championship.
Nananatiling pangarap ang muling pagdomina sa Asian basketball.
Nagkaroon sila ng pagkakataon ngunit nabigo sa host team, 67-78, sa harap ng maangas na Chinese crowd sa Changsha Social Work College Gymnasium kamakalawa ng gabi.
Ayaw nang Chinese na matalo sila lalo na at ipinagdiriwang nila ang National Day.
“(We’re) very down (in the locker room). There’s nobody in there that feels content with the result or the performance. They’re disappointed. They know what’s going on back home. They understand that,” ani Baldwin.
Sinabi pa ni Baldwin na lubha silang nasaktan sa nasabing kabiguan sa finals.
“We’re down. We’re disappointed. We’re hurt for ourselves. We’re hurt for them. We’re hurt for MVP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan) and the people who supported us,” ani Baldwin.
Sa paglahok sa Olympic wildcard tournaments, sinabi ni Baldwin na matinding paghahanda ang kanilang gagawin.
“We would like to get across the (PBA) board’s support and we hope for that in the future,” wika ni Baldwin.
“It would help a lot in the future, but nobody’s really thinking about that right now,” dagdag pa nito.