2014 FIBA World Cup: Puerto Rico (17) vs Philippines (34) IR

FIBA version of #chickensad
Photo courtesy of FIBA.com

Isn't it ironic how we keep on saying that we're one of the smallest (if not the smallest) teams competing in the 2014 FIBA World Cup only to fall, once more, against a team led by a man who is generously and graciously listed as six feet tall?

With last night's 77-73 loss to Puerto Rico, our World Cup Round of 16 dream has finally come to an end. We can only hope that Gilas Pilipinas is able to salvage a victory against the 37th seeded Senegal MBT, but even that team has a far superior win-loss slate than us.

So what did us in versus Puerto Rico? Well, the law of averages finally hit our shooters (which, by now, does not include Jeffrei Chan and Gary David). We took 28 attempts and only hit 6, with Gabe Norwood, either by design or by default, TAKING SIX THREES and hitting NONE. Then there's the turnovers-- forced and unforced. Paul Lee had five to go with Andray Blatche's six (with a crucial one down the stretched which led to J.J. Barrea's heroics).

And for all things Renaldo Balkman, the former and controversial PBA import didn't kill us. No, he was even benched for long stretches. Hell, Puerto Rico was pretty much a one-man team on offense in the final stretch with Barrea, who dropped 30 on our heads, seemingly unstoppable.


Positive:

- Will the real non-whining, non-nut punching L.A. Tenorio please stand up? The Atenean did plenty of work last night and held his own against the bulkier Barrea.

- At tournament's end, we'd be very surprised if Andray Blatche isn't associated with any NBA team yet.

- Small team they say? We fought Puerto Rico to a stalemate at 32 rebounds each.

Negative:

- Junemar Fajardo, 6"9, 2nd most efficient in the FIBA tournament, played four minutes. FOUR minutes. Against a tough looking yet soft playing Puerto Rican frontline. We'd argue for Japeth Aguilar's DNP as well but what has he done in his entire run with Gilas to merit it anyway?

- Jeffrei Chan and Gary David combined for six wonderful minutes. You're telling me that they can't get enough trust to go up against Puerto Rico's 6"5 shooting guard David Huertas?

- All the shots that should've gone to RdO to get him going like he did in the Argentina match, went to Gabe Norwood. And as a Rain or Shine fan, I'd rather Jonathan Uyloan take any and all shots than Norwood. That's not hating on Norwood who is a World class defender. But seriously.

- Couldn't we have switched Gabe at the 2, to go with a bigger line-up of (insert PG here)-Norwood-de Ocampo-Pingris/Fajardo-Blatche? Because you know, we brought two shooters who're not really shooting the ball anyway so why the hell not.

- During and after the game, some of our friends on Twitter voiced out their frustrations/ opinions:

 

 

Still, we are blessed to have been able to get this far and compete with the World's Best. Moral victory. Learning curve. Hopefully, our coaches pick up the slack from here on out.

#LabanPilipinas