Thursday @ Indofoods & Shang Jakarta

Thursday was a bye day for the Philippines so we all stayed at the hotel to lounge about (the team of course still had practice).

Worked on our stories for Friday. Had my picture taken with Samad Nikkah Bahrami of Iran at the hotel lobby.

By mid-afternoon, the coaches went to watch the Lebanon-Iran game (Mahram won because Al Riyadi did not field their first five prompting some angry words from the other teams) while the team and us media folk went to the Indofoods Building in downtown Jakarta where MVP and Mr. Anthony Salim gave a brief welcome and pep talk. Philippine Sports Commission Harry Angping was also present (I think the good Commish flew in from China) and he also vowed to help the Smart Gilas project.

Then we all went to Shangri La where we had dinner. I think I'm going to get even fatter eating here. Hahahaha.

Had quite a chat with Talk 'N Text Head Coach Chot Reyes who was here as well. Then did my interview with Gilas Team Captain Chris Tiu. Watch out for that. My column on Monday will be about one of the American imports playing here.

It's my first in an international competition as part of a media group and this is quite an experience. I can only surmise the difference in scale if this were the Olympics or the World Cup. It's incredible. Am just soaking in everything. Am also taking the opportunity to make some friends with the coaches, players, and media of other countries.