By Michael Angelo S. Murillo
Senior Reporter

FOR THE SECOND straight time the Philippine men’s national basketball team is playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. It is something it views with much significance and with pride even as it buckles down to work to prove it belongs on the world stage.

Set to start its campaign in the global basketball spectacle this weekend in Foshan, China, Gilas Pilipinas feels privileged to have the opportunity to once again play in the Worlds and vows to give its all for flag and country once it takes the hard court.

“It’s just awesome to know that you’re world-class. You always want to be the best in your sport, the best in any activity that you do. To be one of the few teams that make it to this point in international competition, it’s pretty awesome. It should be fun for everybody, myself included,” Gilas veteran Gabe Norwood was quoted as saying by the official FIBA Website.

Mr. Norwood is one of the returning players from the 2014 Gilas team that saw action in the World Cup in Spain.

The others are naturalized player are Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar and Paul Lee.

Other members of the Yeng Guiao-coached team for World Cup China are qualifier stalwarts Troy Rosario, Mark Barroca, Roger Pogoy, Raymond Almazan and Kiefer Ravena as well as newbies CJ Perez and Robert Bolick.

The Philippines begins its campaign in Group D along with teams from Serbia, Italy and Angola.

Gilas plays its first game on Aug. 31 against Italy, which boasts of National Basketball Association players Danilo Gallinari and Marco Belinelli.

Mr. Norwood said they are expecting a tough campaign in the World Cup but they are not allowing such thoughts to consume them and are instead focusing on what they have to do and giving their best.

“[The] Guys are competing and take a lot of pride in their opportunity to represent the flag. The goal is to continue to prove that we are world-class, and Lord willing, improve on our finish from the previous World Cup,” Mr. Norwood, 34, said.

In 2014, the Philippines finished with an overall record of 1-4 but not after giving teams from Greece, Croatia, Argentina and Puerto Rico a scare and beating Senegal, 81-79, in overtime in its final game of group play.

HIGH ON BOLICK AND PEREZ
Meanwhile, having made the Gilas 12 seeing action in the World Cup, the coaches that handled Messrs. Bolick and Perez in college could not be prouder and believe that their former wards would do well in the tournament.

In separate interviews over Radyo Pilipinas 2 early this week, Boyet Fernandez of San Beda University and Topex Robinson of Lyceum of the Philippines University shared they were happy when they heard the news of the two Philippine Basketball Association rookies making it to the team.

“I was expecting him to be included as I really believed he had a chance, especially after Jayson Castro and Scottie Thompson backed out and he was invited along with CJ Perez. I just felt coach Yeng had a plan when he took them. We in San Beda are proud of Robert just being invited for Gilas, more so now that he is part of the final roster,” said Mr. Fernandez, who won National Collegiate Athletic Association titles with Mr. Bolick.

“I saw Robert play in college and competed in international competitions and he did well and I’m certain he’ll do well at the World Cup,” he added.

The same goes for Mr. Robinson on his former player Perez.

“It’s a great honor for CJ to be part of the Gilas team since he is only new in the PBA. We are proud of that having had chance to handle him in the past,” said the Lyceum coach, whose team made it to back-to-back NCAA finals appearances with Mr. Perez in tow.

“Apart from talent, I think CJ’s commitment to the Gilas program and the team allowed him to be noticed and considered for the World Cup,” Mr. Robinson said.

Both Messrs. Fernandez and Robinson said the inclusion of their former players speaks well of the programs they have as institutions.

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