Envoy vows all-out support for Gilas

MADRID – Philippine Ambassador to Spain Carlos Salinas said the other day he will spearhead a massive promotional campaign to mobilize the Filipino community in the country, estimated to be in the range of 40,000 to 50,000, in support of the Gilas national basketball team playing five preliminary round games at the FIBA World Cup in Seville starting Aug. 30.

Salinas hosted lunch for Gilas coach Chot Reyes and team manager Aboy Castro at the famed Asador Donostiarra restaurant in this Spanish capital city last Friday in a send-off for the visiting delegation that attended the FIBA World Cup draw in Barcelona four days before. Reyes, Castro and logistics director Andrew Teh flew to Seville last Tuesday to inspect the playing venue and housing and training facilities then late that same day, took a three-hour train ride to Madrid before motoring to Vitoria for another three hours.

  Reyes and Castro checked out facilities in Vitoria where Gilas will set up boot camp and left for Manila via Madrid last Friday. Teh stayed in Seville for two nights to scout facilities, confer with the local hosting committee organized by Mayor Juan Ignacio Zoido and coordinate with honorary consul Jose Ignacio Bidon before returning home.

Salinas designated vice-consul and third secretary Carmela Teresa (Tinky) Cabreira to map out a plan of support for Gilas. Cabreira said she will formulate a work program to disseminate information on the World Cup to the Filipino community in Spain, launch a slogan contest where the prize is two tickets to watch Gilas’ five preliminary games, coordinate requests for tickets and hotel accommodations from Filipinos abroad, organize a promotional clinic with Gilas players and arrange local transportation for fans to go to Seville.

Salinas himself promised to attend every game in Seville where SBP president and PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alberto del Rosario are also expected to join the Filipino community in cheering for Gilas at the 7,000-seat Palacio Municipal de Deportes.

Reyes and Castro visited the Embassy on Eresma Road and were introduced to consul and second secretary Arman Racho Talbo, defense attaché Col. Benjamin Castro and staff Chester Diaz.

Salinas said he was elated that Gilas qualified for the World Cup. “Spain and the Philippines enjoy a deep affinity,” he said. “It’s exciting that we are celebrating our return to the World Cup after 36 years in the country where we have a close relationship. We are mobilizing the Filipino community to support Gilas. One of our plans is for Gilas to conduct a clinic where Filipino kids can learn some basics from our best players and get a chance to meet and get autographs and pose for pictures with our stars.”

Reyes said Gilas will arrive in Madrid on Aug. 4 and before taking a train to Vitoria for boot camp, the team will be available for a 2-hour clinic to drum up local interest in the Filipino community. Cabreira said majority of the Filipino population in Spain is based in Madrid and Barcelona. From home, it was estimated there will be about 1,000 fans flying over to Seville for the games.

Reyes said Gilas’ sixth man, the fans in the stands, will play a vital role in the Philippine campaign. If the Philippines wins at least two games in the preliminaries, it will advance to the knockout round-of-16 in Madrid on Sept. 6. Gilas opens the tournament against Croatia on Aug. 30 then battles Greece on Aug. 31, Argentina on Sept. 1, Puerto Rico on Sept. 3 and Senegal on Sept. 4.

Reyes said to make it to the top 24 in the world competition is a feat but Gilas won’t be content just to play in Spain. “We’re going out there to compete and win, even if we die trying,” he said. “This is about national pride, puso. We realize we’re in a tough bracket, easily the second toughest behind Group A (with Spain, Serbia, Brazil, France, Egypt and Iran). That only means we’ll work harder in camp, play harder. We’re hoping to fill the stands with Filipinos. You saw what they did for us at the FIBA-Asia Championships. They’re our sixth man. It’s mind-boggling to think that we made it to the World Cup as a qualifier and teams like Russia, Italy and Canada didn’t even qualify.”

Salinas said while a student at UST, he tried out for the basketball varsity but was told he was too skinny by coach Herr Silva. “I’ve followed basketball for years and years,” said the Ambassador. “I remember watching Ramoncito Campos, Poch Martinez, Francisco Vestil, the Fajardo brothers Gabby and Fely, Louie Tabuena and Edmundo Kaimo. In our family, my grandson plays baseball. He was offered athletic scholarships by several schools in Manila but is now studying in Madrid. He’s still playing baseball for a club called Los Gatos. I enjoy watching the PBA. Like every Filipino, I’m looking forward to Gilas’ return to the World Cup.”

Reyes said he encountered several Filipinos in Barcelona preparing to go to Seville for the games. One of them was Brian Dimpuyug, a supervisor at the Tapa Tapa restaurant in the MareMagnum Mall by the Barcelona bay. Dimpuyug, the youngest of four, was born and raised in Barcelona and finished up to second year of college at Laboure University. Now 29, he is married to a Spaniard and they have two children, Lian, 5, and Lara, 3. Dimpuyug will take a one-week work leave to join a group of 40 Filipino residents in a tourist bus to Seville.

Another Filipino in Barcelona, Ruben Zaballa, said he’s excited to follow Gilas in Seville. Zaballa played with James Yap on the UE varsity under coach Jimmy Mariano and was a practice player with Chowking in the PBL. He recently competed on the Barcelona squad in the FIBA 3x3 World Masters semifinals.