“This might be the weakest Philippine team, the least prepared, and the smallest. But what it’s got is a big heart. Heart won it for us versus Japan, Korea, Iran, and the US. These guys just don’t know the meaning of quit.” |
HEART. This word repeated over and over again throughout the weak as the Smart Gilas 2.0 faced their very tournament together as a team at the 34th William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan. The hash tag #Puso was often seen on the post-game tweets of LA Tenorio, Sol Mercado, Coach Chot Reyes, and the rest of the team as they battled through 8 different teams within a span of 9 days. And I believe, this HEART a.k.a.PUSO shall continue to be the driving force behind the campaign of Smart Gilas Pilipinas 2.0. to get to the FIBA World Cup 2014. |
We do not know what Coach Chot Reyes and the rest of the coaching staff will decide with regards to the current team roster. We do not know what adjustments they will make and whether other players will be included (and excluded) from the line-up, and a semi-new team will evolve. But regardless of the changing of total skills set of the players, one thing we can be assured of… that the aura that was carried by this last team will also be carried by the semi-new one. They will also NOT “know the meaning of quit”. |
That HEART which enables the nation to help each other through earthquakes and typhoons and enables a communities to rebuild after the destruction of landslides and flash floods; it is that HEART that will fight oppression and discrimination to achieve independence and parity; | it is that HEART which enables families to survive despite loved ones working abroad, that will endure all hardships for the hope of a brighter tomorrow; it is that HEART that knows there is a God that loves them, and that knowledge brings peace and assurance to a nation and people who are struggling to fight its way back to its former glory and splendor. |