It was supposed to be simple. A historic win in the World Cup in 2014 meant the most logical conclusion would be that the same Gilas team would represent us in this year's FIBA-Asia Championships, but as is our country's wont, things got extremely complicated. Players started getting injured, backing out of the Gilas line up. Questions began building up. Why did so and so back out? Is he really injured? What in heaven's name is Plantar Fasciatis? Why is so and so included in the line up? Can he make a contribution in the international game?
At the end of the day (or the month of July) Coach Tab Baldwin of Gilas 3.0 was left with a 17 man pool with only 6 holdovers from Gilas 2.0, one of which just came out of retirement. The others were split into 4 groups. First, those who many questioned if they were too old to be useful. Second was the group many questioned if they were too volatile and unpredictable to be counted on. Third was a group some questioned if their recent suberb play was only because they played for weaker teams. Last was the group many questioned if they were too raw to make a difference. Many feared these unexpected, seemingly unreliable players spelled trouble and some started to turn angry at those who said "No" to the call of the nation.
But life's best stories are always filled with seemingly "unfit" people being thrust into the spotlight. Take the world's best-selling book, the Bible. Moses, Noah, Gideon, David, Matthew, Zachaeus, all names that, when they were entrusted an enormous honor or task, people scoffed or got nervous about. Then, they took their opportunity, believed and made the most of them. That's how they became noteworthy. That's how they became heroes.
People feared Asi Taulava, Don Don Hontiveros and Sonny Thoss to be too old. Given the opportunity in the Jones Cup, they came up big, each leading us with big baskets to power us to wins. Moala Tautuaa and Troy Rosario were feared to be raw but they showed veteran composure and toughness and made laudable contributions. People bristled at JC Intal and Aldrech Ramos being given slots, but their outside shooting was invaluable to our halfcourt spacing and their length added versatility to our defense. The unpredictability people feared with Terrence Romeo and Calvin Abueva turned out to be the positive energy and bravado the team needed to regain that swagger we thought we had lost in Estonia.
It's simple, really. Many feared and questioned each and every one of these guys' inclusion into the line up, but each and every one of them grabbed their opportunity, believed, and showed us their Puso. That's how they have become noteworthy. That is how they have become our heroes.
Now, as the FIBA Asia Championship nears, we also get an opportunity. We get an opportunity to stop concentrating our energies on hating/shaming those who said "No" to the call of Gilas 3.0. Instead, we get an opportunity to cheer and support those who have stepped forward, despite the questions and doubts surrounding them. Are we going to grab this opportunity? Are we going to believe? Are we going to be noteworthy?
I'm in.
