Gilas Pilipinas Basketball

Long-time Gilas Pilipinas member Gabe Norwood knows a thing or two about pressure, having been with a national squad since 2007 as an amateur in the Southeast Asian Games.

He has been to one of the biggest basketball stages, the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2014 where he even left a lasting impression when he put Argentinian Luis Scola on a poster.

One of the longest-tenured national team players said one of the best ways to cope up or try to live with the pressure is to think of it as something positive.

“We have millions of kababayans all over the world … the pressure is there but at the same time, it’s an honor. We are a select few chosen to do this and we hope to continue to make the country proud,” Norwood told Qayaban FM.

Norwood and the rest of Gilas Pilipinas are trying their best to live with the immense pressure surrounding them for the squad’s upcoming 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian Qualifiers sixth window this weekend.

With only four slots remaining for the continent in the World Cup later this year, and six teams still in the mix, the Philippines will have to sweep its final two games against Qatar and Kazakhstan to give themselves a better opportunity of making it to the world stage anew.

Making it more difficult for the team is that they are racing against time to be in their best form come game day.

The team will surely be under the microscope, but in spite of all the outside noise, the nationals are trying to stay calm and confident for the huge task at hand.

“Kahit saan naman may pressure eh, sa mga games. Ine-embrace lang namin yung pressure. Alam namin na may chance, pero yun nga, embrace lang ng pressure, and just play the game,” Jayson Castro said.

Norwood and Castro is part of the 14-man Gilas pool which flew to Doha, Qatar last Saturday.

Joining them are Andray Blatche, June Mar Fajardo, Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Scottie Thompson, Troy Rosario, Marcio Lassiter, Mark Barroca, Paul Lee, Roger Pogoy, Poy Erram, and Thirdy Ravena.

“Biggest thing right now is just to continue learning. We were humbled last window, taking two losses at home. We need to come here and respect our opponent. I know they will come out and play well so we just have to continue learning from our mistakes and come out better as a unit,” Norwood added.

Gilas played their only tune-up game in preparation for the upcoming sixth window against PBA club Meralco Bolts, which they defeated.

Head coach Yeng Guiao himself saw encouraging signs in that match, and is confident Gilas will deliver against Qatar and Kazakhstan.

“Nakita namin maganda yung samahan, yung blending, so maganda, malaki yung kumpiyansa namin na kaya naming manalo,” he said.

The return of Blatche after serving a multiple-game suspension will also be a huge boost.

“Medyo okay tayo. We have the right mix of players, plus Andray Blatche. That is very important. He is going to play a very big role. We will give a good show and play well I think,” Gilas team manager Butch Antonio said.

After Gilas faltered at home back to back times in the fifth window of the qualifiers last December 2018, the team knew the quest of making it back to the World Cup wouldn’t get any easier.

But amid the struggles, criticisms, and everything else they have faced left and right, Gilas are only trying to approach the final window in the best way they can: with unrelenting focus and composure, and a fearless mindset that has been the group’s trademark from the very start.

By Levi Verora, Jr.