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| Whether you call them the "B squad" or the "C squad", Gilas' SEA Games roster headlined the national team's 2025 story. POC Media Pool (file photo) |
MANILA—In a fictional 2025, the Power Rangers SPD's "B squad" saved the world from evil forces at a time the "A squad" went missing and eventually returned to say they had turned on them and joined the dark side.
Well, the real world's 2025 AD is about to end, and the Power Rangers remain a work of fiction—and could be on the road to extinction following Toei's decision to put the production of its mother group, Super Sentai, on hold starting next year due to financial constraints.
However, a real-life "B squad" emerged to bring peace, particularly to a basketball community that is hoping for a major breakthrough to its national team program to close out the year.
In a year Gilas Pilipinas fans were wondering what if Kai Sotto had not hurt his ACL last January, the national team's "other roster" put a happily-ever-after ending to the entire national team program's 2025 story.
The "other Gilas team", however, had its own share of challenges.
Many fans argued that the Gilas team that played in the Southeast Asian Games should not be called the "B squad" because coach Norman Black already had a B squad in mind.
However, the confusion that surrounded Thailand's eligibility rules, as well as contract obligations by some of the players he first called up, forced Black to let go of most of his lineup and bring in new reinforcements at the 11th hour, and many fans called the final SEA Games roster the "C team".
With only a few days to practice—not to mention inserting Poy Erram to the lineup on the eve of the final roster submission due to Allen Liwag's shoulder injury—the Gilas SEA Games team's lack of genuine cohesion was evident when it had slow starts against its opponents.
However, come the second half, Gilas showed its true strength, and it eventually swept the entire competition to win the gold.
There were some scary moments against Thailand in the final, though, when crucial errors—and some interesting calls favoring the home team—kept Gilas from closing out the game sooner.
However, when Freddie Lish missed two free throws, and Robert Bolick made two of his own, and called "Night night" to the sold-out Nimibutr Stadium crowd in Bangkok, it was indeed night night!
"Di ko makakalimutan yun. Ang daming pinaghirapan doon. Di lang kami pati SBP at mga coaching staff," Bolick said, also recounting the off-court happenings that took place.
"Nanalo pa rin kami kaya sulit."
"Sarap ng feeling kasi three years kong hinintay itong opportunity na ito. Noong nag-silver kami noong 2022, parang may chip on my shoulder. Noong nanalo kami, it was a good revenge naman," added Thirdy Ravena, who finally got over the heartbreak in Hanoi when Gilas lost the SEA Games men's 5x5 basketball gold for the first time since 1989.
No less than Gilas' A team coach Tim Cone praised Black for his latest accomplishment, as he was reminded of the challenges he had when he coached Gilas to the 2023 Asian Games gold.
"Everybody was doubting them. Same thing for us in the Asian Games. Everybody was doubting us, and that kind of motivated us to hang together, be together, and fight. They did a great job of fighting," Cone said.
"I think everybody forgets how great a coach Norman Black is... I'm so happy that he has that chance to remind everybody of how good a coach he is."
However, if Cone is to be asked if the term "B squad", "C squad", or whatever is fitting, he is not in favor of it.
"It's silly, and they're not certainly a C team. That team had talent, and it was good," Cone further said.
So there: don't call them the B squad; call them Gilas.
