THE score after the July 2 “basket brawl” was 9-3. Meaning, nine Gilas Pilipinas players sacked against only three Australians.
Seventeen days later, the number of convicts ballooned: 12 Gilas personnel. The Australian count remained at 3: Chris Goulding, Daniel Kickert and Milwaukee Buck Thon Maker.
The 10 Gilas cagers sacked were Calvin Abueva suspended 6 games, Jio Jalalon 5 games, Carl Cruz 5, RR Pogoy 5, Troy Rosario 3, Andray Blatche 3, Jayson Castro 3, Terrence Romeo 3, and Matthew Wright and Japeth Aguilar 1 game apiece.
The other two Gilas personnel punished were head coach Chot Reyes (1 game plus fine) and his deputy Jong Uichico (3 games).
Reyes, for inducing his players to “hit somebody” and “kick some ass,” was fined P535,000-plus.
The SBP (Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas) was also fined P13 million-plus.
More painful was the Fiba (International Basketball Federation) verdict to place us under probationary status for three years.
Thus, another incident involving Gilas similar to the July 2 “basket brawl” could get us suspended from overseas competitions. Again.
Now the question: “Where do we go from here?”
All comments considered.
PACQUIAO HEALTH. IS it true a reputable Metro Manila hospital issued a waiver so that Manny Pacquiao could fight Lucas Matthysse in that fluke of a bout in Kuala Lumpur on July 15? Pacquiao scored a seventh-round TKO victory over the Argentinian defending world welterweight champion but not after having been diagnosed with a heart ailment following an angiogram procedure.
Thank God, nothing untoward happened to Pacquiao during the fight that saw Matthysse suffer two “knockdowns” in the third and fifth before he got waved out by referee Kenny Bayless in the seventh for spitting out his mouthpiece while kneeling down.
If the PacMan’s reported heart condition isn’t fake news, then it is imperative that he should now seriously consider retirement. If not, may I suggest that the Senate adopt a resolution forcing Pacquiao to retire? For his own good. As our national treasure, let’s treasure him to the hilt—while he is still alive and kicking. And still a world champ, as well.