Gilas Pilipinas Basketball

It was a scary sight for all basketball-crazy Pinoys.

Japanese ace Makoto Hiejema and big man Jojo Takeuchi were taking the fight to Team Pilipinas, the former blazing hot, breathing fire and shooting fireballs from the perimeter virtually at will; the latter, terrifyingly efficient, grabbing rebounds in bunches and stroking shots inside and out. Japan led 17–16 after one, and they padded that lead to 7 early in the second canto. The game was all even at the half, 39–39, and at the end of three, 54–54.

Andray Blatche and Jayson Castro were their usual dynamic selves, but no one else was stepping up for Gilas 3.0.