while it's true that smart gilas doesnt have the glamour of the azkals, it's not entirely correct to conclude that gilas only gains homecourt advantage in countries with big pinoy population other than the philippines. how many basketball tourneys have gilas played at home? if fiba asia is to be held in the philippines then for sure the big dome cannot accommodate all the fans who will want to cheer for gilas. c'mon guys cheer up. football is a beautiful game, let's give it that. that's why filipinos in general are beginning to fall in love with it. but the philippines will always be a basketball country-it's our first love. qui prior est tempore, potior est jure. and i dont think a football victory over an asean powerhouse would be as sweet as a basketball victory over china, korea or iran.
I'm not saying we should not support football. I also like the game of football. It's a beautiful game where teamwork is the only way you will have a chance of winning. The passing and the "psychic" like connection from the players on the pitch is breath taking. Also, there is nothing like scoring a goal in front of your home fans. Just to watch the utter pandemonium that 1 goal can bring is chilling and satisfying.
With that said, though Gilas has only played a few games here in the Philippines, there is no support for the team. I watched the team last time in the PBA and there was almost no one supporting them. Heck, people wanted them to lose and even went as far as to insult Japeth (overrated) and Barroca (they called him benta).
I watched the Manila Invitational and the small Rizal Memorial Gym couldn't even be filled up. It was disheartening. Now I have to listen to people bash the sport I love with illogical and absurd reasoning. It makes me sick. No chance to succeed? That's a bunch of hogwash reasoning from Anti-Basketball pundits.
Basketball is also a beautiful game. If only people would take time to appreciate the intricacies of the game itself. The passing, the defense, the offense, the runs... They'd realize it's not overrated nor is it boring. It's just that we (Filipinos) have refused to open our eyes to the reality that the only way we can succeed and improve in basketball is to partake in the global initiative by FIBA.
It's time we encourage our players to play outside. Our basketball federation should be willing to sponsor talented basketball players and help them play in the US NCAA. We should compete in the global stage more often. We should not shun the opportunities.
And when did it ever have to be one or the other? Why should people choose between basketball and football? The proper thing would be to support development of both sports. More sports, more opportunities for our athletes. More chance at global recognition. It's even absurd that we are discussing basketball VS. football.
And to that piece of sh*t Ronnie Nathanielz. Get out of our country you bandwagon hopping, bad mouthing, stupid excuse of a sports journalist.
