For the first time ever after Gilas Pilipinas’ Asian Games debacle in September, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) finally spoke out on Monday through executive director Erika Dy.
There’s just one problem: She missed the mark on an analogy she gave explaining Gilas Pilipinas’ failed bid to defend the Asian Games gold.
“Obviously, disappointing naman talaga. Hindi natin ’yun matatago,” Dy said during Team Philippines’ welcome ceremony at the Century Seafood Restaurant on Monday. “But that’s sports, di ba? Sabi nga ni Chairman [Patrick Gregorio], matiyempuhan ka minsan na masama ang gising mo, hindi maganda ’yung ilalaro, important game. So it was difficult.”
Dy might’ve watched a different tournament. Gilas Pilipinas’ failed title-retention bid in the 20th Asian Games wasn’t just about one bad game or a case of “masama ang gising.” It was actually a series of missteps and poor decisions (like forming a team just three weeks before a tournament and waiting for an injured Justin Brownlee until the very end) that culminated in a 105-61 shellacking at the hands of China—the same team that later struggled against Saudi Arabia in the quarterfinals before falling to Japan in the semis.
In other words, Dy conveniently left out the part where the SBP and PBA failed to build a team capable of defending the gold. She missed the part where the SBP could’ve done better in so many ways. She didn’t take accountability on behalf of the SBP and instead used an analogy that was completely off the mark.
SBP Promises ‘an Evaluation’ as Asian Games Also Important
All that, though, is history. Water under the bridge. Moving forward, the SBP, according to Dy, will be evaluating how to come up with a better team for the Asian Games since it is also important to do well in Asian basketball.
“We should really do an evaluation on how we can really come up with a very good team to the Asian Games, given the fact na hindi siya naka-align right now with the FIBA calendar,” Dy said.
“Importante ang Asian Games, hindi natin puwedeng pabayaan ’yun,” she added. “So, ’yun ang uupuan namin with the coaches on how to attack in the Asian Games the next time around para hindi nabibitawan ’yung FIBA calendar, na hindi mawala ’yung focus doon kasi importante rin ’yung qualification to the World Cup. But at the same time, do well also in the Asiad.”
Those words ring hollow, though. Twice already—in 2023 and this year—the SBP and PBA have crammed in putting together a team for the Asian Games. The 2023 squad won regardless, in part due to Justin Brownlee conjuring some of that famed JB magic in the Philippines’ quarterfinal and semis wins over Iran and China, respectively. This year’s team had no such magic and instead was reduced to a national embarrassment.
Now, more than ever, concrete action should back up the SBP’s words.
