‘We were all cheering for Philippines’: FIBA sec gen Patrick Baumann expects Gilas back on world stage in 2019
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After its impressive showing in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Seville, Spain, the Philippine national men’s basketball team earned itself more than its fair share of foreign admirers.
Count FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann among that number.
Baumann told News5 that he was impressed by Gilas Pilipinas’ showing in the championships after the team gave more experienced teams a good scare before finishing up its campaign with a 1-4 win-loss record in Group B.
“I think the Philippines proved they belong on the world level, the world’s elite,” Baumann said.
“I think with patience and with a lot of hard work back in the country to grow further talents and bring this team together more in the future, by next World Cup in 2019, Philippines will be back there and they will start to beat everybody that they meet on the court.”
Gilas surprised many foreign observers in near-upsets of Croatia, Argentina and Puerto Rico although Baumann believed that they showed their inexperience playing on this level as they failed to get over the hump in those games.
Their performance was a pleasant surprise to Baumann, who was able to watch the squad in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship, which was held in Manila.
“Certainly if you compare the team as it played last year in the Asian championship and to compare with this team, there’s been a huge jump in quality and savoir faire in how to go a game,” he said.
“What we have mostly appreciated is it came on the court. They were unimpressed. They fought for their right to beat Croatia, beat Argentina.”
He added that there was “no doubt” that the Philippines would make a return to the world level given the skill and talent that they displayed in the tournament.
“There are young players there. There are players that shoot like hell. It’s just incredible to see them. There’s (naturalized NBA player Andray) Blatche, who’s playing an incredible World Championship, even injured. You have to give him a lot of credit for the heart he’s given to the team,” he said.
“We were all impressed.”
Baumann also said that the the FIBA officials enjoy having the Philippines in tournaments because of the passion and enthusiasm that their team and supporters bring to the table.
“We were all cheering for Philippines somehow because there’s a lot of spectators in the tribune that follow the team and always give incredible ambience to the World Cup,” he said.
“We think that the basketball federation in the Philippines, the whole basketball family deserves a lot of credit for the achievements of this team here in Sevilla.”