Malugod na binati ng Malakanyang ang Philippine National Basketball Team na Gilas Pilipinas sa nasungkit na silver medal sa katatapos na FIBA Asia Championship sa Changsa, China.
Sa isang statement, sinabi ni Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda na binabati ng Palasyo ang lahat ng players, coaches at supporters ng Gilas Pilipinas.
Bagaman natalo ng koponan ng China sa iskor na 67-78, nakikiisa aniya ang buong sambayanang Pilipino sa Gilas Pilipinas.
Ayon kay Lacierda, nakita sa buong FIBA tournament ang ‘selfless, creative, passionate basketball’ ng Gilas Pilipinas, na pinaigting pa ng mainit na suporta ng mga Pilipino sa loob at labas ng bansa.
“We join the Filipino people in celebrating Gilas Pilipinas’ silver medal finish in the 2015 FIBA Asia Basketball Championships. Throughout this tournament, our team displayed the Philippine brand of selfless, creative, passionate basketball, fuelled by the warm and vocal support of Filipinos at home and abroad. Our people have shown the world what it means to be Filipino, and this serves as inspiration for all of us to work even harder in our respective endeavors, fulfill our individual potentials, and secure the national pride we have reclaimed, one success after another, in varying fields.”
Umapela naman si Lacierda sa mga Pilipino na patuloy na suportahan ang Gilas Pilipinas, maging ang iba pang mga atletang Pinoy, lalo na ang mga naghahangad na makasali sa 2016 Olympics.
“We congratulate our players, our coaches, and supporters, and we encourage all our countrymen to continue their support for our athletes in general, and for Gilas Pilipinas in particular, as they continue to pursue our collective basketball dream of landing a berth in the 2016 Olympics.”