For all the heartbreaks they have dealt the Philippines in the international basketball stage, who would have ever thought that Filipinos would be thanking South Korea?
Well, it just happened.
In order for the Philippines to seal its place in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, it needed either Jordan or Lebanon to lose one of its games. The latter were the ones facing the Koreans.
The Koreans – though already assured of a spot in the China-hosted global spectacle – did not relax. They dealt the Lebanese a 72-84 beating.
That victory, on top of Gilas’ resounding 93-75 win over fifth window tormentor Kazakhstan, only meant one thing: the Philippines has booked a ticket to its second straight World Cup.
The entry was possible since the Philippines improved its card to 7-5, making the country the best fourth-placer in groups E and F, edging the Lebanese and the Jordanians.
And someone else that the Filipinos should thank? Korea’s naturalized center Ricardo Ratliffe.
The former PBA import with the Star Hotshots was at the forefront of the Koreans’ attack, as he produced a game-high 25 points on 50 percent shooting alongside 11 rebounds.
This, indeed, is a huge achievement, particularly after that the Philippines’ World Cup aspirations had once been in danger since they lost both of their games in the Qualifiers’ fifth window last December.
