Game Day for the Smart Gilas RP Men's Team in Jakarta

I'm writing this and posting photos of the Smart Gilas team to give you an idea of what goes on around here.

On game days in this 20th FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup, the team has an hour of practice and a team meeting. Then about two hours before their match, they leaving taking a shuttle bus to the venue that is about 10-15 minutes away.

On their way to the Britama Sports Arena, the team officials sit in front with the players in the back. There isn't exactly a fixed seating arrangement.

The only ones with regular places are Greg Slaughter and CJ Giles who sit the back area because it affords more leg room.

Everyone is just locked in right before the game and the bus is usually quiet. The players are either plugged into their ipods, texting girlfriends back home, or taking a quick nap. Few words are exchanged and people like it that way.

The only one who sings out loud (but not too loud for everyone to hear) is Mark Barroca who plays Air Supply to get plugged in. He takes a friendly ribbing from Butch Antonio, Smart Gilas Operations Manager. But it looks like it works since the team won the last two matches where Barroca sings along to the defunct group's music.

When they arrive at the Britama Arena, they head straight for the locker room to get taped and stretch. After a bit of pre-game preparation with the coaching staff, Rajko Toroman heads to the court to watch the game in progress. Sometimes he rides with the team sometimes he goes ahead with a few of his assistants to scout the opposing teams.

The last couple of days, the crowds have come out. In the first few days, there were people only watching the Indonesian team being the home team. But that has changed in
the last two days. Because of the team's never-say-die attitude, it has won them a legion of fans here and we're not just talking about expat Pinoys here.

Even the other teams are in awe. And now they certainly have everyone's respect. The media here applaud and have very good words for the Smart Gilas team.

On the way home, there's a different atmosphere especially after a win. Everyone's just chatty.

And when we're all going out for dinner it gets pretty noisy. Barroca again is something else. The other day on our way to Central Jakarta, he yakked non-stop from the moment we left until we arrived. His current roommate, Jason Ballesteros says that's typical Mark.

But if you think that Mark is a mouthful wait til you get a load of Mac Baracael. He is one funny dude.

When we're at the hotel, no one is allowed to go to the restaurant ahead of everybody else. The team all meets at the lobby at the appointed time and all go up together. That's the way Coach Rajko wants it and it is good for team bonding and morale. You would think that these guys have been together for the longest time.

Chris Tiu says that this has been the easiest team he's had to captain or bring together. All these guys separately are "the Man" in their squads but it's amazing how they all plugged in and supported one another.

The other day the bus banter was all about the UAAP and NCAA. It was quite enjoyable listening to all the ribbing.

Standard gear for all: cellphones, ipod, and a laptop. Can't leave the country without it.

If you want to know who has been impressive here, well let's just say that everyone has stepped up. Some are slower to adapt to the international game but it's good experience that will serve them well in long stead.

The people who cheer for the Philippines? Well there's the local community and the Indonesians who have taken an affinity to their ASEAN brothers. The other squads also cheer for the Gilas team. It's just incredible. Maybe it's the underdog tag and everyone loves an underdog.