Whole nation celebrates as Gilas regains supremacy in Asian Games
Philippine social media was abuzz after Gilas Pilipinas won the gold medal at the basketball tournament of the 19th Asian Games on Friday, October 6, with the players posting their victory online. Gilas Pilipinas won the gold medal at the basketball tournament of the 19th Asian Games on Friday, October 6, with the players posting their victory online. Ange Kouame, who played an integral part in Gilas' 70-60 victory over Jordan, thanked everyone who trusted him to be part of the national team. Other members of the 2023 FIBA World Cup team, including Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, and Kai Sotto, also celebrated through their Instagram stories. Former Gilas head coach Chot Reyes celebrated the victory by watching the game on his phone and had also shared his celebration on his Instagram story. Former senator Panfilo Lacson pointed out that the win was all about leadership leadership, and other gold medalists including Ernesto Obiena and Margarita Ojiu-Jitsu.
Опубликовано : 2 года назад от Aric John Sy Cua в Sports
Philippine social media was abuzz after Gilas Pilipinas won the gold medal at the basketball tournament of the 19th Asian Games on Friday, October 6, with the players posting their victory online.
In his first social media post since the gold medal victory, centerman Ange Kouame thanked everyone who trusted him to be part of the national team. He had 14 points, 11 rebounds, 5 steals, and 2 blocks, with 20 minutes of playing time.
"Thanks to the country, to my teammates, the coaches and the organization [Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)] for trusting me and choosing me to be part of this group. God is great! God got me," Kouame wrote on Instagram. "A lot of ups and downs but hey job is done, man!" Kouame, who played an integral part in Gilas' 70-60 victory over Jordan in the gold medal game, followed it up by writing, "Don't forget specialist in championship." On X, he also acknowledged Justin Brownlee as the GOAT [greatest of all time], with the latter's team-leading 20 points at the gold medal game.
On Instagram, shooting guard Scottie Thompson said he was overjoyed. He had 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists during the national team's gold medal game.
"In awe! Overjoyed!" Thompson wrote from Hangzhou, where the Asian Games are being held. "Isang kwentong maiiwan ko sa mga anak ko habang buhay. 'Anak, kasama ako diyan!'" (One story I will tell my kids forever, "I was there!") "The goal is more important than the role! After 61 years! Para sa bayan lalaban! Laban Pilipino! Puso!" wrote forward Calvin Oftana on Instagram.
Sharing Oftana's post on his Instagram story, swingman Chris Newsome said, "Mission Accomplished!" Point guard Chris Ross showed his gold medal on Instagram, with the caption, "61 years in the making!" Team captain Japeth Aguilar's wife, Cassandra, took to Instagram to also express how proud she was.
"This Gold is bittersweet. You've never turned your back when they ask for you. The last 14 years has been a journey. Now on to new challenges & more blessings," she wrote.
Other Gilas players, coaches react Utah Jazz player Jordan Clarkson, who represented Gilas at the recent FIBA World Cup held in the country, posted a photo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) on his official Facebook page, with the caption "Puso!!!", accompanied with emojis of a gold medal and the Philippine flag.
Other members of the 2023 FIBA World Cup team, including Dwight Ramos, AJ Edu, Roger Pogoy, Kiefer Ravena, and Kai Sotto, also celebrated through their Instagram stories.
From the United Kingdom, former Gilas head coach Chot Reyes celebrated the victory by watching the game on his phone and had also shared his celebration on his Instagram story. He had also complimented his successor and former colleague, Tim Cone, for the success in the Asiad.
"So much has been said about Coach Tim's accomplishments. This latest one, the Asian Games Gold, being among his finest moments. But to us who know him well he is so much more than that. To my mentor, friend, brother - congratulations and thank you," Reyes wrote.
Chris Tiu, who played for the national team in the gold medal-winning 2011 Southeast Asian Games squad, also joined in via X and praised the team's defensive strategy in the gold medal game.
"Wow!! What a performance by this Gilas squad! Excellent defensive strategy and execution. Congratulations Pilipinas!! Finally, after 60+ years! Ang saya!" Tiu wrote.
Even the Philippine women's national football team sent their regards.
"Congratulations to the Gilas Pilipinas men's basketball team for winning our first gold medal in a team sport event at the Hangzhou Asian Games," the Filipinas X handle wrote.
PH internet reacts Former senator Panfilo Lacson pointed out that the Asiad win was all about leadership.
"What does Gilas Pilipinas winning the Asian Basketball championship after the team's pathetic FIBA finish tell us? Leadership matters," he wrote on X on Saturday.
For JR Santiago, it is to lift up the spirits as a country, and had mentioned other gold medalists including pole vaulter Ernest John "EJ" Obiena and jiu-jitsu artists Margarita "Meggie" Ochoa and Annie Ramirez.
"Leave it to our athletes to lift our spirits as a nation when everything seems bleak," he wrote on X. "Congratulations and thank you, EJ Obiena, Maggie Ochoa, Annie Ramirez, and GILAS for bringing home the gold. And a big congratulations to all Filipino medalists and athletes at the Asian Games!" "Congratulations, Gilas Pilipinas for winning the basketball gold, and to the other athletes who won medals for the country in the 19th Asian Games," wrote human rights lawyer Jose "Chel" Diokno on Saturday.
"After 62 years you've taken us back to the top in ASIA!" wrote singer Gary Valenciano on X.
Gerry Cacanindin on Facebook also assessed Gilas' on Chinese soil.
"We played with grit and heart and never resorted to dirty tactics. We were cool, collected, and sportsmanlike. Gilas simply won against China because we were the hungrier team," he wrote on Saturday. "To many Chinese, we are just a small Pacific country who knows how to play basketball. They probably see us not in the same league as their team. In their mind, that semifinal game was supposed to be a cakewalk." "To lose by one point after being up by double digits left them shell-shocked as Gilas shattered their worldview of how invincible their team was supposed to be," he added. "Maybe we have a lot to thank Gilas for. Because from here on, the average Chinese have come to learn that there's a small, insignificant country who can go toe to toe with them, defeat them in their backyard, and eventually win it all." Gilas gave the Philippines its first Asian Games gold medal since 1962 and its first medal since the 1998 Centennial Team, which was also coached by Tim Cone.
Темы: Asian