Gilas Pilipinas : Silver Medal Awardee in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Statement of Secretary Edwin Lacierda on Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships:

"The Aquino administration joins the Filipino people in congratulating Gilas Pilipinas for winning the silver medal in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships—and with it, a ticket to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

This victory is the culmination of years of hard work, belief, and perseverance from our players and their families, from our coaching staff, from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas led by Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and, most of all, from the entire Filipino nation, who has always stood behind the national team through their struggles and triumphs.

In unison, the nation urged our team forward, and with consummate “puso,” they laid everything on the line for flag and country. Gilas Pilipinas has shown the world that no one can outsize the heart of the Filipino. May their performance inspire every Filipino to relentlessly pursue excellence, no matter what field they find themselves in, so that, together, we may fulfill our shared aspiration of a Philippine nation greater than ever before."

Your excellency, if you truly support #Gilas Pilipinas and the basketball game why not allocate 500 million of your PDAF yearly to finance and develop the sport to make it to the next level of trainings to ensure the Philippine basketball its competitiveness internationally. A mere message you have done does not help. Please consider what Mr. Pingris of #Gilas had said in his interview that playing for the country as Philippine Team had too much personal sacrifices without receiving financial benefits due to low PBA salaries.

It does not matter whether we lose or win in a game. What matters most is we give the best fight we could ever give... because the glory doesn't come from the trophy or medals but from the known support, unity and love of those who believe we can... sooner or later, the glory will follow us if do our best. Congratulations Gilas Pilipinas! You did the best! Congratulations to all proud Filipinos around the world!