Sinag Shines Through

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!
(Photo courtesy of Spin.ph)

Before you readily dismiss Sinag Pilipinas’ 2013 Southeast Asian Games (held in the “you can actually hear the crickets on live television” empty Zayar Thiri Stadium in Myan Mar) gold medal in the men’s basketball tournament as something of a birthright, rest assured that it was no easy task for everyone involved.

Already a given is the pressure to win it all, brought about by our continued dominance of the sport this side of Asia. Adding to that is the way we fully expect this team not just to win—but to flat our send a message and obliterate the competition by winning by AT LEAST TWENTY POINTS.

Unfair? Unreasonable?


We are the still newly-minted FIBA Asia Silver Medalists after all, with any and all claims of excellence solidified and justified by consistent examples of greatness in all tournaments. Otherwise, it’s going to look like an easy, homecourt, fluke (think Japan MBT just a few years back which won a FIBA Asia silver, but nothing meaningful as of late).

So the pressure was indeed on. For Marcus Douthit to deliver and get his legs back after sitting out the last few FIBA Asia games due to injury. For Bobby Ray Parks, Jr. to silence his growing critics before he takes the next step and continues with his NBA aspirations. For the Sinag holdovers Kevin Louie Alas, Ron Pascual, Jake Pascual and Garvo Lanete to show that they made the right choice when they could’ve easily done an R.R. Garcia and opted to join the 2014 PBA Draft where most of them would’ve easily made the 1st round.

Was it an overkill, talent wise?

Only if you still believe that the Philippines is an Asian basketball power.

We have the talent, yes we do. But until we win games and tournaments recognized by the world over, then all we have are half-assed claims of greatness much like showbiz reporters would handout questionable titles such as “Asia’s Queen of Soul,” “Asia’s Nightingale” and so on (the only one we believe in is “Asia’s Songbird” because we’ve heard a lot of Asian acts and no one sings like our very own).

Back to Sinag.

What’s next for this team?

It’s time to develop a new core with majority all set to turn pro by next year. We love that Keifer Ravena, Kevin Ferrer and Roi Sumang have taken to the program and that PBA Hall of Famer head coach Jong Uichico is on board. There are a lot of names out there who we hope will make the roster (re: Arnold Van Opstal before any Teng, Ravena or Paras please).

Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!