Winners still

When the buzzer rang with two minutes left, I was already disappointed. I could not believe the road the Philippine Basketball Team was heading during the final stand-off against Iran on FIBA Asia, Sunday night.

The game was too tough to handle even if the Nationals were off to a good start. The optimism was there. You know that typical Filipino spirit. It was then everybody in the stadium was shouting “Puso! Puso!” Different faces on the screen showed expression for the hope of winning an international peat. Yet tall Iranian men ran past our players and blocked almost every move of the Philippines. Most of the shots failed, some fouls were uncalled for, and the final quarter declared us defeated.

It was another moment of letdown like seeing Manny Pacquiao lost his belt to the opponent or knowing that our fellowmen were ostracized in Taiwan. It was not just disappointment, a continental world title slipped off from our hands. I couldn't blame the Gilas. They were up against men who were taller and bigger than them with a defense strategy that couldn't topple them down. We lost a game, but we won something which they could not take away from us - our identity.

During the semifinals against South Korea, there was frenzy over the 86-79 win. It was the sign - our players were going to Spain. We were finally heading towards a historic event which may change the course of Philippine basketball forever, even if our national sport is too far from basketball.  When the Gilas players cried at the end, every Filipino wanted to weep in happiness. We were a people who cared for one another. It was never in our mindset to bring ourselves down because we are third world. Instead we took this as a challenge to raise the bar of excellence higher.

Just recently, a Filipino won the Asian version of American-based reality show “The Apprentice”. His hard work paved the way from being a senior product manager in a pharmaceutical company to being the chief of staff for Air Asia's CEO earning a seven-figure salary. In an interview, The Apprentice winner Jonathan Yabut said “I've always wanted to see the day when people can look up to us, see us as professionals.” He added that being a Filipino adds the flame to his inspiration.

Stories like these are not impossible if we just work hard for it. No defeat is worth wallowing. We are Filipinos who are not afraid to be stepped on. Stand up with your head high and be proud of your race. Your identity as Filipino is something no one could take away. Don't lose yourself to the idea that you could not make it because we always can.

Next year, our Philippine team is set to step on Spanish ground to compete against other big countries in the sport. We do not know if another defeat awaits them but we are already sure winners. When we pledged to support our own team, it was already a winning feat for us Filipinos. Even if we have lost the FIBA Asia title, we are still winners.  We won when we united ourselves during the game and cheered our hearts out. There is victory in whatever color the medal is - be it silver, gold or bronze.

It doesn't take a basketball game to prove to the world that we are winners because in life or in this world for that matter, to win is a choice. 

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Join the biggest collegiate event in Cebu! Come to UP Cookout 2013, this Friday August 16 at the UP Cebu grounds. It will be a night of performances to score against the high increase of tuition fees in universities. Gates will open at 5:30 pm.