Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

2019 SEA Games

At 32, Vic Manuel no longer expecting another Gilas call-up


There’s no denying that Vic Manuel made his mark on Gilas Pilipinas in the 30th Southeast Asian Games.

The national team first-timer made an impact in the Filipino dribblers’ first four games — where they ran roughshod over their opponents by an average of 47.25 points — as he normed 16.0 points.

Manuel was once again a factor Tuesday night when Gilas took on Tyler Lamb and Thailand for the gold medal.

The Alaska Aces star produced 14 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field — plus a pair of rebounds — while helping the hosts clobber their foes by 34, 115-81, to win the crown.

The Philippines has now extended its SEA Games men’s cage dominion to 13, and has collected its 18th gold overall.

“Sobrang saya,” said the 6-foot-4 Manuel.

“Alam mo naman na ‘yun ‘yung goal namin kaya kami naglaro dito eh.”

Manuel expressed gratitude to coach Tim Cone for giving him the chance to play for flag and country, which definitely fantastically since it ended up in triumph.

2019-sea-games-basketball-philippines-def-singapore-tim-cone At 32, Vic Manuel no longer expecting another Gilas call-up 2019 SEA Games Basketball Gilas Pilipinas News  - philippine sports news

“Nagpapasalamat talaga ako kay coach Tim kasi dinala niya ‘ko rito sa team na ‘to, tapos sa mga coaching staff nila. Siyempre sa Gilas management. Dun talaga ako nagpapasalamat sa kanila.”

Despite his impressive performance though, Manuel doesn’t think that he’ll get the call for another tour of duty with the national team, saying that he’s not getting any younger at 32 years old.

Still, it’s all fine for him. For Manuel, to have played wearing the country’s colors even for once in his career is enough.

#ReadMore  Tim Cone envisions short prep time for compact Gilas pool

“Hindi naman ako bumabata. Matanda na rin ako,” the cager from Nueva Ecija said. “Thankful talaga ako sa kanila kasi binigyan nila ako ng opportunity makapaglaro sa SEA Games.

“Sobrang happy na ako. Kuntento na ako. Ma-experience ko lang, ayos na sa akin ‘yun.”

Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas opens its FIBA Asia Cup 2025 campaign against Chinese-Taipei on Wednesday, August 6 (Philippine time), looking to make a strong statement in...

Basketball

As Gilas Pilipinas braces for the grueling journey toward the 2027 FIBA World Cup, the potential return of 7-foot-3 center Kai Sotto looms large...

Basketball

Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone knows that tournament draws — like lotteries — are unpredictable and completely out of anyone’s control. And on...

Basketball

To say that Gilas Pilipinas faces a tall order in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers could be more than just an...

Basketball

Fans will have to wait for a couple more months before seeing the new Gilas Pilipinas jerseys, to be made by adidas, in all...

Basketball

The University Athletic Association of the Philippines is finding ways to help the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas address its manpower problems for the 33rd...

Basketball

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is expecting Justin Brownlee to reinforce Gilas Pilipinas in the FIBA Asia Cup 2025 in August. SBP executive director...

Basketball

Kevin Quiambao had a spectacular rookie campaign in the Korean Basketball League, showcasing his versatility and poise on the professional stage. While he wasn’t...

Advertisement