While President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his lack of confidence for Gilas Pilipinas, Vice President Leni Robredo is full of optimism that the national men’s basketball team will do well in the upcoming 2019 FIBA World Cup in 2019.
Robredo said that Gilas Pilipinas may be considered underdogs in the tournament but she believes the Filipinos will put up a good fight.
“Ugali ng mga Pilipino na habang may buhay may pag-asa. Alam natin kung gaano ka-grabe magtrabaho iyong ating mga players sa Gilas, tinitingnan natin na mga bayani na nagre-represent sa atin dahil haharap (sila) sa mga matitinding laban. Ang kailangan (nila) suporta natin. Pampalakas ng loob,” Robredo said on her weekly radio show on Sunday as reporter by cnnphilippines.com.
Duterte has said that Gilas won’t stand a chance against the bigger Italy and urged the Filipinos to root for China instead.
But for Robredo, Gilas Pilipinas should not be counted out just yet.
“Tayong mga Pilipino, talagang parati naman tayong dehado sa lahat, pero pinapakita natin na kahit tayo dehado, lumalaban talaga tayo nang tunay,” she said.
The tournament will start on August 31 and Gilas Pilipinas will plunge into action right away against Italy.
President Duterte is set to fly to China late August and is expected to watch the Gilas-Italy game.
Good luck to Gilas Pilipinas!