MVP ‘happy to be proven wrong’

MANILA, Philippines, May 18 ------ Harsh on Gilas Pilipinas when it took a “disgraceful loss” at the hands of Cambodia in group play, basketball patron Manny V. Pangilinan said he was glad to be proven wrong in the end by the resilient Nationals who turned things around and got the job done in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

Gilas erased all doubts on its capability to bring the lost gold back to the Philippines when it dismantled its import-laden group tormentors with a runaway 80-69 title clincher Tuesday. It was the sweetest payback against the hosts, who previously handed Chot Reyes and his troops a 79-68 defeat that Pangilinan himself described as “an ignominious defeat which will be etched deeply in infamy” in a stinging post on Twitter. “In my congratulatory text message to Chot last night I did include my statement to him I was happy to eat the harsh words I Twitted about Gilas’ defeat to Cambodia in an earlier game,” Pangilinan said in an interview on News5 yesterday. “And I’m very happy to be proven wrong. So he texted back, saying it’s all part of the job so that was a gracious reply to me,” he added.

The SBP chairman emeritus said he was able to watch the first half of the championship in the Meralco offices but had to attend a meeting and just monitored the remainder of the match during the discussions. “There’s a tremendous feeling of relief and of course (I’m) very happy for Gilas. It was a huge job that Gilas did, a magnificent one especially after the defeat to Cambodia in the first game. So kudos to the team and the coaching staff.”

Source: philstar.com