Dear SBP, Before anything else, let me introduce myself. I am a Senior High School student from the Ateneo, and at the same time, I am an avid supporter of Gilas Pilipinas. I only started to religiously follow the Philippine National Team during the 2011 FIBA Asia stint of Smart Gilas in China. Based on how I saw the team, they weren't exactly expected to succeed during that tourney. After all, the Philippine National Basketball Team had been experiencing some sort of slump during that time. Despite the circumstances of having a team with primarily Collegiate Basketball players (That team was led by Chris Tiu, take note), they still reached 4th place. After that stint, I've been following them religiously ever since. In the 3 years I have followed them, it's pretty evident what their battle cry is. LABAN PILIPINAS, PUSO. It's become the battle cry of Filipinos out there. One time during an outreach program that our school has, I happened to wear a Kiefer R

Never have I felt more betrayed. In my 17 years as a basketball fan, never have I felt more betrayed by the game that we, the Filipinos, love so dearly. We play the game in the streets, wearing our flip flops, risking our lives all for the game that we love. Buwis Buhay Basketball. Air Tsinelas. That is Philippine Basketball. The love the Filipinos have for basketball goes beyond the basketball court. You see it anywhere. It's in books, jeepneys, advertisements and many more. Filipinos love, and breathe Basketball. Filipinos apply so much damn effort to show that they truly love this game. Sa totoo lang, parang di nga effort eh. Parang effortless nga yung mga ginagawa ng mga Pinoy eh. Ganyan kamahal ng mga Pilipino ang basketball. Despite all the effort that we Filipinos have shown, here we are. Heartbroken. Betrayed. Seemingly left alone, with nothing else to hope for. Once again, Gilas walks out of the court, heartbroken. (Photo Credit: InterAKTV) The