Southeast Asian Video games – Basketball – Cambodia v Philippines – Last – Morodok Techo Elephant Corridor 2, Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Could 16, 2023 Philippines gamers rejoice after successful the match REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
PHNOM PENH—CJ Perez looked for a private motivation to maintain him going and located his from all of the non-believing skeptics of Gilas Pilipinas.
“All these doubters, they impressed us. They made us extremely motivated to win,” stated Perez after attaining success with Gilas regardless of adopting a contradictory mindset.
After the items of the group had been put rapidly collectively shortly earlier than the thirty second Southeast Asian Video games right here, the swarm of pessimists grew to become louder when Gilas acquired whacked by host Cambodia in the course of the males’s basketball elimination section.
The Filipinos had been in a position to redeem their delight versus a Cambodian facet souped up with a number of American imports by way of an 80-69 dismantling of the host nation to reclaim the SEA Video games crown on Tuesday night.
“It’s an honor and I’m very grateful to assist reclaim the gold medal for our nation,” stated Perez, now a two-time SEA Video games champion that started along with his golden stint on the 2019 Manila Video games.
The Filipinos, who, for many years dominated as kings of the biennial meet in males’s basketball, relinquished their throne to Indonesia within the Hanoi Video games final yr.
The Gilas redeem group needed to conquer not just a few challenges, together with a brief coaching camp, logistical troubles and an harm, amongst others.
“We really performed not just for the doubters however for the supporters, too. Each saved us impressed all through the journey,” stated Perez, a two-time Philippine Basketball Affiliation scoring champion from San Miguel Beer.
For Perez, competing within the SEA Video games isn’t as demanding as taking part in within the PBA.
“The PBA is extra bodily and the principles are completely different, however we had been in a position to alter shortly,” stated the league’s 2019 rookie of the yr and a part of the legendary 5 choice in the identical season.
By successful the SEA Video games title the second time round, Perez not solely is aware of it might assist jack up his market worth, however he additionally proved all Gilas non-believers flawed.
RELATED STORIES
Your subscription couldn’t be saved. Please attempt once more.
Your subscription has been profitable.
Learn Subsequent
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get entry to The Philippine Day by day Inquirer & different 70+ titles, share as much as 5 devices, take heed to the information, obtain as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Name 896 6000.
For suggestions, complaints, or inquiries, contact us.
