MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the national cage federation feted members of the triumphant Smart Gilas Pilipinas team in a thanksgiving dinner at the Meralco Lighthouse Monday night, toasting them for making the nation proud in their amazing run in the just-concluded Jones Cup.
“You give us hope and I think it is our duty to reciprocate that hope with faith,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan.
“You not only made us proud, but made us hope again, that indeed, we can achieve what we believe in,” said SBP vice chairman Ricky Vargas.
SBP leaders, Smart and Meralco executives and PBA officials led by commissioner Chito Salud joined Pangilinan in giving the victorious Nationals a warm dinner welcome.
The Nationals, winning the Jones Cup for the first time in 14 years, arrived from Taipei Monday noon to hearty greetings from almost everybody at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport I.
Upon arrival, they were whisked to the VIP lounge for a press conference and photo session before finally meeting their families for the welcome dinner tendered by the SBP leadership.
The wives and the children stayed on the hall though as Pangilinan gathered the team in a room reportedly to announce the incentive to the players for their feat.
Everyone had a good night with the players heckling one another while watching the Philippines-US game played on giant TV sets put up in the venue.
“You saw the dancing, the jokes, that’s part of our pre-game and post game routines. We can’t take ourselves too seriously,” said coach Chot Reyes.
“That’s the secret. I wish I had some magic formula, I wish I had some secret sauce, but there really was none. That’s the secret, people doing their jobs, performing their roles,” Reyes also said.
Witnessing the team’s last four games in the Jones Cup, the PBA commissioner believed the PBA brand of basketball has toughened up the players for international competition.
We must further develop and strengthen our mid- to long-range shooting along with our free throws,” said Salud.
“Most important of all, they must have the poise and experience to be competitive against taller and bigger opponents,” Salud added.