On Gilas' loss to Burger King

I thought that Smart Gilas was in trouble against Burger King for two reasons: 

1) Although they expected BK to play hard they were unprepared for the rough housing. Why I have no idea. They should have seen that coming. It's a disturbing trend to see them back down from physical play by opponents. Yes, I know that they are not allowed to complain to the referees (that is Rajko Toroman's job) and they are not allowed to throw punches and get into fights. But they've been beating PBA teams in scrimmages and with their demolition of the Powerade team, it falls upon all the other teams to defend the PBA's honor. 

There are a lot of issues here -- Noli Eala, Rajko Toroman, Gilas vs. Powerade, Japeth Aguilar, CJ Giles, and a team of college superstars. Remember when Ginebra played Northern Consolidated and Robert Jaworski went down with an injury? He returned, bloodied and all, played hard then NCC folded. 

It's the same thing with BK. They were out there to defend the PBA and their coach's honor. But really, that rough play was of bad taste. Have you ever seen so many flagrant fouls in one stretch? 

There are many who want to see Gilas fail. And that is a damn shame. It doesn't have to be Gilas, if the national team were Powerade, then they should be supported whatever the issues are.

I honestly thought that Chot Reyes' RP San Mig team was on the right track. They were beating foreign teams left and right and came up short in Tokushima. But that was just part of their learnings. Who knows where we'd be at it that continued. You have to remember that the Gilas program was supposed to be an all-pro team. But that was declined by the PBA. So it went to college players.

If Gilas got on another run after 50-37, then they would have run BK off the court, but instead, they folded.

And they did for a number of reasons and that brings me to #2

2) The entry of Rabeh Al-Hussaini threw the system in disarray. I told a few officials before they even signed him that it would have been best to get him in the system after the Champions League where he will still play for Ateneo. He had only one practice with Gilas prior to the match with BK. How will he integrate himself? As it is, it's either Al Ramos or Jason Ballesteros who come in after CJ or Japeth but they came in after Rabeh. Of course, I understand that they wanted to get Al-Hussaini in the thick of things right away but it backfired. He looked lost and so did his teammates.

If he was frustrated that is understandable. He looked so out of sync on the court. 

But the international game is hardly a big man's game. It's usually the forwards and the guards who thrive -- and its those who can shoot who succeed. 

Does that mean Rabeh cannot play with this team? He can skills-wise. Attitude-wise is another question.

Dylan Ababou said to me prior to the BK game that he was still having to re-orient himself with Gilas' system after playing for UST where he was completely used in a different way. Of course that is no excuse but sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't. And when you're suddenly thrown into the mix the results can be disappointing.

We've seen this with lots of other players whether in the NBA or the PBA. 

Of course there's nothing like getting first hand experience by playing in the PBA but maybe some shouldn't get too worked up about the loss. As the saying goes, they should learn from this.

But again, even before the PBA stint, Gilas officials wondered if every game was going to be something like Talk 'N Text, Powerade, or Burger King. 

Guess we'll find out this Wednesday.

PUBLIC APOLOGY OF WYNNE ARBOLEDA

I take full responsibility and express regret over the unfortunate incident that involved me and a PBA fan during the Burger King- SMART Gilas game on 16 October 2009. My action was provoked by the incessant name-calling and cursing uttered by the said fan particularly to me each time I was within hearing distance.  The continuous barrage of invectives and insults towards my person, my family and my team were just too difficult to withstand.

Much to my regret, I lost my composure. I realize that this type of behavior by some PBA fans should be considered by players as part of the game and that these usually challenge the emotional capacity of players and other athletes. Even as I take this opportunity to apologize to Allain Katigbak and his family, as well as the PBA fans for this unfortunate incident, at the same time, I raise an appeal on behalf of other players to the PBA to recognize that provocations and invectives directed towards specific players unnecessarily test our limitations and that proper behavior must also be expected from the basketball fans.  Such an incident has happened in previous games.  There should be ways devised to appeal to both players and the public as to the proper decorum and respect we should accord each other.

Thank you for taking time to hear my apology.

Wynne Arboleda

Burger King Basketball Team