No matter where they play in the world, Gilas Pilipinas always draws the unwavering support of thousands of Filipino fans, filling arenas with their cheers.
“What you saw in the crowd tonight — that’s the Filipino staple. No matter where you go in the world, you’re gonna see the Filipino people show up for their basketball team. I think you saw that tonight,” said Gilas guard Chris Newsome after the Philippines’ 70-87 loss to New Zealand at the Spark Arena in Auckland.
Despite trailing by as much as 28 points, the Filipino crowd never wavered, injecting energy into the team with every basket that went Gilas’ way.
Tension gripped the arena when the Philippine squad trimmed the deficit to just 11 points, 66-77, with 6:37 remaining. The crowd erupted, believing a comeback was within reach.
However, the rally never fully materialized as the Tall Blacks’ hot shooting proved too much to overcome.
(C) FIBA.basketball
Despite the defeat, Newsome and the rest of the Gilas squad expressed deep appreciation for the passionate support that never wavered.
“Even though we didn’t come out with the win, you can still see that we were able to bring joy to Filipinos, whether they’re here in New Zealand or back home. I think that speaks volumes about how passionate the Philippines is about basketball,” shared the Meralco Bolts guard.
Head coach Tim Cone also acknowledged the immense impact of the Filipino crowd, noting that their energy not only fuels Gilas but also motivates opposing teams.
“We talked about that. I think oftentimes it pumps up the other team just as much as it pumps us up, because they feel challenged,” Cone explained.
“We felt that in Doha. The place was so loud when we played, but when other teams played, everyone left. So when they got the chance to play in front of a massive crowd, they really wanted to beat us. They don’t normally get that kind of atmosphere all the time. So it can pump up the other team just as much.”
Even with the double-edged effect of the Filipino fan base, Cone remains grateful and in awe of their dedication.
(C) FIBA Asia Cup
“But that doesn’t mean we don’t appreciate what they do. My wife had friends who traveled from Brisbane and Melbourne just to watch the game. I saw fans from Wellington who came all the way here,” added the Barangay Ginebra head coach.
“It’s the same thing in the Middle East — fans traveled from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Doha just to watch us play. It’s an amazing thing. Even in Latvia, we had a lot of Filipinos supporting us in Europe,” he went on.
“They love basketball. It’s something I grew up with in the Philippines, and it doesn’t surprise us.”
Gilas Pilipinas will reunite for the FIBA Asia Cup in August, set to take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
There, Cone, Newsome, and the rest of the squad will once again be met with the undying support of Filipino basketball fans worldwide.
