Gilas Pilipinas idinepensa, nangyaring gusot isolated lang ayon kay Senador Sonny Angara
Idinepensa ni Senador Sonny Angara ang Gilas Pilipinas sa nangyaring suntukan sa kanilang laban sa Australian boomers.
Sinabi ni Angara, chairman ng Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas na natural na reaksyon lang ng isang team na idepensa ang miyembro nito kung sa tingin nila ay nadehado
Iginiit ni Angara na naiwasan sana na humantong sa suntukan kung nagpatupad lang ng mahigpit na patakaran ang referee sa mga naging kaso ng paglabag.
Pero paglilinaw ni Angara dapat humingi ng paumanhin ang sinumang nagkasala at dapat patawan ng parusa lalo na ang mga nakisali sa nangyaring rambol.
Naniniwala ang senador na isolated lang ang nangyari dahil ang mga filipino ay kilalang hospitable at nagpapakita ng sportsmanship saan mang larangan ng palaro.
It was an unfortunate event but I stand by the Gilas team on this. One may criticize how the game ended, but the true test of a fan is to stick with his team win or lose, through thick and thin.
It was unfortunate that things got out of hand. It could have been prevented if the referees had tightened officiating to better control the game.
In the heat of the moment, the players on both sides had to stand up for each other. It is not only a universal human reaction in a team sport, but for those who have played the game, looking after each other is part of the brotherhood among team members.
But let me make this crystal clear: sanctions must be meted out, apologies extended as true sportsmen would, nonplayers who joined the melee should be punished, and above all, lessons learned so that this should not happen again.
We would like to reassure the world that is an isolated event and Filipinos remain the most hospitable race , in and out of the court, as millions of visitors who visit us annually would attest.
Ulat ni Meanne Corvera
