In the month of heroes, when no less than the highest official of the land said everyone can be a hero in his own way, a modern day version has apologized. The official knew whereof he spoke: there is one who has yet to but cannot apologize anymore. But we digress.
The non-biodegradable Chot Reyes, head coach for the Philippine basketball team, Gilas — an epiphany, a wish and a challenge– lost three times in the ongoing FIBA World Cup in Manila, and with them the Filipino hoopers’ long-sought hoopla of making it in the Olympics
Obviously,he was humble or humbled. Better still, he was brave, in more ways than one. First off, he said he was ready to face his critics or bashers. Boos were no way to treat a hero. After all, there was one, at least, who was buried in a sacred ground even if the bona fides were in doubt, historically. Second off, he finally resigned as head coach, yielding to the elusive, if not illusory,possibility that the one who will take over will do a better job.
Enough is enough. Losing respectably three times to better teams wasn’t the goal in front of him. He was supposed to win. He knew taking the job was like taking a hole in the head. He was competitive. His team was competitive. But it’s hard to run or win against those who chase lions, jumps as high as trees in the jungle, have limbs twice as long as theirs, and can shoot with accuracy from the proverbial parking lot. Never mind the boos.
It wasn’t an excuse. They did win over China,not over the West Philippine Sea, although some brave senators did display their courage on the court. One well-known coach admitted before the world games began, that “tsamba” was always a possibility . The victory over China is one big “tsamba” and it mattered. The senators’ sideshow spoiled it or stole it. Xi Jing Ping,China’s lifetime president, can’t be bothered by a minor distraction; he has other things—bigger and wider and more important — in mind, apart from the Taiwan challenge. Time is running out and China’s economy is in big trouble.
The Filipino’s sense of victory is skin, not ocean, deep. ( Ninoy Aquino once said , anyway, that every one of his kind was worth fighting for. The reigning only son of his political rival who was dethroned after or because of his death, agrees in principle). Remember an unlamented politician– or is it the other way around- who once bravely vowed to cross the sea to bring the fight to a friendly invader—only to succumb to Sun Tzu’s caution that it is better to win without fighting.
Chot can still hold is head up, notwithstanding. A hero is not a noun but a verb, according to Robert Downey, Jr. He has given the best. Look at what they say: the Filipinos are hard workers, an oft- mentioned reputation so much praised around the world, a victory won by OFWs , not by cagers. It helps in international games, nevertheless. But some people like the cagers from South Sudan are more equal than others. Their system is simple: jumps as high as you can, shoot from as far as you can, run as fast as you can as if chasing a lion , be as strong and solid like a brickwall and test what prevails when an irresistible force runs against an immovable object.
Of course, Chot knows now , like anyone worth his salt, more after the lost than after the win. He can point to South Sudan, who has emerged from the woodwork in world basketball, as the way of the future. Training in Africa, rather in Asia or Europe for our national cagers, should be an eye-opener, for one. Those who can’t, can always teach. Haha. Regrets will always be there, but only a few. Rise where you fall. Chot has been quite a motivational speaker.
In the post Chot era, apart from giving the boos-scarred coach what he deserves as real hero, let’s begin rethinking about the past as a dominant basketball country as nostalgic as when the price of rice was at P20 per kilo. It will not happen. The price cap being imposed is temporary. The law of supply and demand will eventually kick in, even if politicians think it can be abolished. Ask the finest there is around the block, Ben Diokno.
While Solomon has said the race may not be always to swift nor the battle to the strong, he didn’t say these are not important or necessary, although “tsamba” is not ruled out in the fine print. Catholics call it luck, other believers shun the term and decides it’s fate. All of them believes that faith can move mountains, and the majority will look down at booing instead of praying. The ruler of “tsamba” is sovereign.
For a while, motivational speakers, that may include Chot and other coaches had spoken about the biblical match between David and Goliath, and many miss the point. It wasn’t David’s big heart against Goliath’s heavy feet, nor David’s five pebbles against Goliath’s heavy armor that made the difference. As early as then, David knew accurate shooting from the imaginary three-point line was a decisive tool. Jordan Clarkson’s 4 three-point surge in a 20 points output in 4 minutes versus the Chinese made the opponents see white in their uniform.
This is not to say or suggest that Filipinos should stop daydreaming about being Olympic champion in basketball in the future, near or far. Even lotto winners bet, not simply dream of becoming millionaires. Of course, government offers millions of possibilities. Train to be as good as possible and be realistic. Also, stop booing the heroes, the coach and his players, who are giving their best. A small step that can lead to bigger things. The South Sudan cagers , and the President himself, have a word for it: unity.
