Baldwin on Istanbul airport attack: pic.twitter.com/jy1rIKX0f5
— LVJ (@levijoshua) June 30, 2016
Gilas Pilipinas offered sympathy to people affected by the recent gun and bomb attack of Istanbul, Turkey’s Ataturk International Airport.
People inside the Mall of Asia Arena observed a moment of silence prior to Gilas’ tune-up match against Turkey on Friday night. Gilas head coach Tab Baldwin had said prior to the game that he reached out to members of the Turkish national basketball team.
“I made a talk to the Turkish players. We just expressed our sorrow to them and their home land. When we found out about it, our Gilas Viber group was full of prayers for the Turkish team and that they can have some peace in their hearts,” Baldwin shared.
Baldwin also said that as the hosts of the tournament, the nation should try to make the visiting teams feel comfortable.
“We what would happen if something like that happened here, how traumatized and horrified we would be. They are guests here and we have to do everything we can to make them feel as comfortable as we could possibly can,” he said.
“It’s a horrific thing. Maybe another time and another place, we can step in the political arena because I have great interest in that area in my life. I have a lot of friends in Turkey and I just thank god none of them were personally affected.
“But many people were. You are talking about 250 people whose lives have changed because of that and many more traumatized by it.”
Baldwin also tweeted last Wednesday about how Turkey has served as his home for nearly three years.
https://twitter.com/iHob1111/status/747983637455331328
Baldwin is hoping that people in authority will take the necessary steps to eradicate the causes of such attacks.
“We have an element in the world that doesn’t want normal, ordinary citizens to live peacefully. And they came close to having a dramatic impact here in the Philippines,” Baldwin said.
“We are thankful we aren’t involved in any way, we pray for those that were, and more importantly, I think there’s a time coming in this world where we have to find these cockroaches and stomp on them.”
“Whatever that takes, people should step up and do their part. I’d be happy too and I think a lot of people would. Until we do that, I think all of us are going to walk around with one eye worrying about what the other eye is seeing. It’s really no way to live our lives,” he added.
