If there’s two words that could describe Gilas Pilipinas’ closed door game against Qatar Monday evening, it’s ‘deafening silence’.
Though trance music blaster through the speakers of the fabled SMART Araneta Coliseum, there were no cheers nor jeers that could be heard. Only the baritone voice of game barker Noel Zarate, the calls of the coaches, the whistles of the referees, and the squeaks of the players’ sneakers can be heard.
“It’s kinda surreal. It felt really weird na naglalaro ka sa sarili mong bansa or in your home stadium, playing another country, and there’s nobody there cheering you,” admitted Gilas head coach Yeng Guiao, as the Big Dome turned into a neutral venue.
“So ang ginawa namin, kami-kami na lang ang nagchi-cheer sa sarili namin. Kaya maingay ‘yung bench.
“Dati ‘di ko marinig ‘yung mga instructions ko, mismo ako, sa ingay. Pero ngayon, pati ‘yung sa kabila naririnig namin eh,” he added.
But the visiting Qatar squad also did the same, as their bench was just as rowdy as the Filipinos.
“I also told them before the game, ang daming nanonood sa atin sa TV, ang daming nanonood sa atin sa livestream or sa radio, whichever. And all of them are praying and supporting us,” the amiable tactician pointed out.
“So just visualize that and imagine that, and maybe that’s going to help you put out that effort.”
The one thing the Qataris did not have was a compact cheer squad. Sitting just above the Philippines’ bench were two of the rowdiest cheerleaders one would see: Allein Maliksi and Raymond Almazan.
Prior to the game, the two promised to go all-out in cheering for the home side to at least get a semblance of a homecourt advantage.
And cheer they did.
Gilas Pilipinas’ cheerleaders: @alleinmaliksi and @AlmazanRaymond
(? @patriciahizon) #LabanPilipinas #FIBAWC #ThisIsMyHouse pic.twitter.com/oIehh4r2BD
— ESPN5 (@Sports5PH) September 17, 2018
And teammates like Scottie Thompson appreciated the efforts of their two comrades all throughout the game.
“Daming nanonood no? Saya!” quipped the 25-year-old utility guard after Gilas’ 92-81 victory.
“Naghahabol kami, doon namin na-feel na kailangang kailangan ang crowd. First quarter, ‘di kami agad nakabalik sa second quarter. Naninibago kasi tahimik, parang tune-up game, but like coach Yeng said, were getting used to it habang tumatagal,” he added.
“Yun siguro ang nangyari. Ang ganda ng sigaw nila Allein at Almazan, parang ten-thousand ang nanonood.”
