On Gilas, Laban and Puso In the Game of Life

The Gilas Fever is not yet over. In fact, it’s just started. After the Cinderella run in the elimination round of the FIBA Worlds, the Philippine team still emerged as champions in the hearts of both the Filipinos and foreign fans. Yes, they lost 4 times and won only once. But in all those almost-won-close-games, what really prevailed was the big heart or “puso” that has really earned the admiration and respect of all.

Here’s a very heart-warming blog from a friend who was very well known for giving enlightening and non-biased advise to her listeners and followers. Being the other half of the very popular and sorely missed puso-filled Paul and Cherry of Lite Rock Favorites of the Week (LRFW) of the defunct radio station, 96.3 WRocK, Cherry once again shares her wisdom and personal views about Gilas and how this can relate to our everyday lives.

Sit back, read, and be inspired! Puso! 🙂

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I confess that I did not watch the FIBA World Cup Gilas games, save for one, their game against Puerto Rico. Like the rest of Pinoydom, I was hoping Gilas would sweep their matches against Puerto Rico and Senegal to enter the Round of 16.

But I was heartbroken to see the 14 point lead in the first quarter fizzle out, and along with it, the energy and rhythm of our players. Well, I’m no basketball afficionado but I know that they’re tired, frustrated, demoralized, who wouldn’t be, but I also know Gilas plays with a lot of heart and a lot of spunk. So what a pleasant surprise that Gilas ended their Group B stint with a victory over Senegal.

I remember seeing some NBA stars do a practice game with our PBA players years and years ago … the image of Bal David being carried by, was it, Shaquille O’Neal, comes to mind and right there, I told myself, this is the sorry state of Philippine basketball. We won’t make it … we’re just too small.

But watching Gilas play … I picked up a few lessons, mostly from Jimmy Alapag, which I feel would apply to any game we play in life …

1. Small is not size. It’s what you do with what you got. So, we saw Jimmy Alapag run with the ball fast and past much bigger opponents, unfazed. Maliit siya, pero mabilis din siya, at hindi lang mabilis, mautak, ma-diskarte, matapang, matatag ang loobalam niya kung saan niya dadalhin ang bola. Maliit ka lang pala kung maliit ang tingin mo sa sarili mo. Jimmy stands 5’9″, but doesn’t he look taller than 7 feet by international standards?

I’m hardly five feet so I definitely feel small next to tall girls who I know get second looks all the time. But what the heck, I can do other things that could make people forget my height and see my gifts instead. I will breeze past my “opponents” and just play my game the best way I could. Kung di pa rin mapansin, e, di hindi. Pero kung mapansin, pagpalain nawa kayo … mabait kayo sa mga nakakapuwing.

2. Do not play the game the same way others do … why for? You don’t have their height, they don’t have your speed, so why carry, pass and shoot the ball the way they do?

3. Do not play the game for those who do not believe in you, play for those who do. No matter what you do, you cannot make non-believers cheer you on, so, if you wait for them to, the gameclock will run out or game may be over. Just keep playing, they will root for you if they want to. In the meantime, there is a game to be won or to be fought well.

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Jimmy Alapag, Andray Blatche, and Jayson Castro of Gilas Pilipinas (c/o FIBA)

4. “Bilog ang bola”, kaya minsan, ang laro na akala mo panalo ka na, natatalo pa. Don’t be complacent at any time. Wag kampante. Diyan tayo maaagawan ng bola, e, pag nagpahinga sa gitna ng laban, o sa iba nakatingin, kahit ilang segundo lang. Kung nakatutok ka, mananakawan ka ba?

5. Time and timing are of the essence. Wag magmadali, pero wag ding papatay-patay. Sometimes, we miss our target, because we quit a second or minute or day earlier than we should. Or we think we have enough time, that’s why we fail to make a shot or execute a move when we should … it slips through our hands. As a song says, “Time waits for no one.” Do your move now, or wait for the next chance to … which may never come again.

6. Endure the pain. No game is played well, without an injury you had to bear.

7. Know when it’s time to throw in the towel. Jimmy Alapag said goodbye to international basketball by playing the game of his life against Senegal. It will be remembered for a long, long time. And I will always remember how tall I can be, no matter how small, because Jimmy Alapag taught me so …

8. When the game is not going your way and your teammates are losing steam or focus, take charge. Be the spark plug, be the impetus, be the reason your team will rally for. Gagawin mo na rin lang, gawin mo na lahat. Tsaka ka na mapagod, mawalan ng gana, mainis, mapikon, tamarin … pag nabigay mo na ang kaya mo at tapos na ang laro.

9. Gilas, Laban and Puso are three important words as we play the game of life. Kung walang gilas, kikilos ba? Kung walang laban, may dahilan pa ba? Kung walang puso, ano pang saysay ko?

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Cherry Bayle was a radio host/DJ and used to have a weekend radio program called “Paul and Cherry’s Lite Rock Favorites of the Week” at the now defunct 96.3 WRocK. It’s a Saturday noon/early afternoon show that played the contemporary favorite lite rock hit songs and gave precious advice to listeners who had “Puso” problems. Cherry is now the Programming Supervisor of Radyo 5 and Executive Producer of Radyo 5 shows Magbago Tayo, Love Idols, Chink Positive, Healing Galing and Cristy Ferminute.

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One thought on “On Gilas, Laban and Puso In the Game of Life”

  1. Cherry Bayle says:

    Thank you, Burn Gutierrez. 🙂 You just made my day.

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