PHL Olympians host lunch for Gilas Pilipinas

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Olympians Association made a special effort Monday to host a lunch for Gilas Pilipinas, trying to boost the morale of the Nationals as they prepare for the 2016 Olympic world-qualifying tourney.

Basketball great Paeng Hechanova and swimmer Akiko Thomson delivered inspiring messages, hoping members of Gilas Pilipinas 4.0 join their ranks by next year.

Also lending their presence in the elite gathering at the Manila Golf Club were cagers Robert Jaworski, Freddie Webb, Elias Tolentino and Tony Genato, gymast Bea Lucero-Lhuillier, badminton player Weena Lim and boxer Rhoel Velasco, among others.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Peping Cojuangco also went out of his way to meet Gilas Pilipinas represented by team manager Butch Antonio, coach Tab Baldwin and players Troy Rosario, Gabe Norwood, Ryan Reyes, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Kiefer Ravena and Moala Tautuaa.

“It was a great gesture,” said Antonio of the effort made by the Olympians.

“Knowing we have a shot at Rio, they gave Gilas Pilipinas some inspirational words. They wanted to boost the morale of our players,” Antonio told The STAR.

“Unfortunately, everybody couldn’t come as almost everybody had their practices (with their PBA mother teams). But the Olympians understand,” Antonio added.

Baldwin made the response on behalf of Gilas, expressing his gratitude and saying it’s humbling and inspiring to be in front of a super elite group.

Baldwin also expressed hope that they could make these people proud as they compete in the Olympic wildcard play in a still unspecified venue in July next year.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipipinas is bidding to host one of the three qualifiers. The FIBA Executive Committee will announce the three winning bidders in a meeting in January.

There were light moments in the Manila Golf Club gathering.

“One was Akiko mentioning how long the Philippines has been out of Olympic basketball now,” said Antonio.

“Over 40 years? No pressure ha, but I hope you make it,” Antonio quoted Thomson as saying.

Jaworski and Webb were both part of Team Phl that competed in the 1972 Munich Games. No basketball team has made it back to the quadrennial games since then.