Taiwanese show "Ginebra" heart in big win over Gilas

MANILA, Philipppines - The Chinese Taipei basketball team borrowed a page from PBA’s most popular basketball club Brgy. Ginebra showing never-say-die spirit in a gutsy come-from-behind 84-79 victory over Gilas Pilipinas in front of a huge pro-Philippine crowd.

Down by 13 at the start of the fourth quarter, the Taiwanese rallied behind their red-hot outside shooting to break the hearts of the 19,638 fans, whom FIBA Asia described in their website as one of the loudest and largest.

More than the Group A leadership, the win was sweet for the Taiwanese, who haven’t won against a Philippine team since the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship.

"Never give up. That's what I told them," Taipei coach Chin-Che Hsu said.

Hsu prepared his boys for the fight both mentally and tactically.

“The players are very smart. We practiced this morning (Saturday) with only hand signals,” Hsu told reporters after the breakthrough win that boosted their chances of getting deeper in the tournament.

The vastly-improved Chinese Taipei shot an outstanding 15 of 30 three-pointers in the game where naturalized Quincy Davis was rendered ineffective by a smothering Gilas’ inside defense.

The Taiwanese showed why Gilas coach Chot Reyes feared this team in a pre-tournament interview after their runner-up showing in the Jones Cup, their best finish in seven years. (read: Reyes wary of sharp C. Taipei ahead of FIBA Asia)

“Our captain, no. 12 (Chi-Chieh Lin), told everyone that time is not yet finished. We need one stop, two stop, play defense and keep on scoring and maybe we have a chance,” Hsu said. “That’s why in the final [quarter], we got lucky.”

But the win wasn’t just about luck.

Their courageous stand showed they’ve got big heart and deft outside touch, which make them all the more dangerous going forward.