Philippine-Argentina Basketball Friendly Match

[Apingdaldal]

continuation of https://modernnations.com/threads/p...rts-basketball-friendly-match-invitation.518/


Pasay City, Metro Manila iis bustling in activity for the preparation for the FIBA sanctioned friendly match between Philippines and Argentina. Organizers are busy with their final setup of the the venue of the basketball match, the Mall of Asia Arena. Inside the Mall of Asia Arena, the Philippine Basketball National Team, aka "Gilas Pilipinas" are doing their final practice session. The following are the players and coaching staffs being called up for this friendly match:

CENTERS

Andray Blatche (C)

Jun Mar Fajardo (C)


FORWARDS


Gabe Norwood (SF)

Marc Pingris (PF)

Ranidel de Ocampo (SF)

Japeth Aguilar (PF)


GUARDS

Jimmy Alapag (PG) - Team captain

Lewis Tenorio (PG)

Jayson Castro (PG)

Paul Dalistan (SG)

Jeff Chan (SG)

Gary David (SG)


RESERVES

Marcus Douthit (C)

Kelly Williams (PF)

Larry Fonacier (SF)

Jared Dillinger (SG)

Kevin Alas (PG)


COACH & STAFF

Vincent "Chot" Reyes - Coach

Joseph Enrique Uichico - Assistant Coach 1

Joshua Reyes - Assistant Coach 2
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In NAIA Terminal 3 airport, 100x policemen from the Philippine National Police's Aviation Security Group (AVESGROUP) and 30x K-9 dogs are being readied for the arrival of the Argentinian guest. The AVSEGROUP policemen will be armed with either H&K UMP or Ferfrans SCW.

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[Naio90]

The Argentine Basketball Confederation would confirm the roster for the upcoming test match:

F	4	Scola, Luis	34 – 30 April 1980	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	Indiana Pacers
C	5	Gallizzi, Tayavek	21 – 8 February 1993	2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)	Quilmes (MdP)
F	6	Mata, Marcos	28 – 1 August 1986	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)	CB Sevilla
G	7	Campazzo, Facundo	23 – 23 March 1991	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)	Peñarol Mar del Plata
G	8	Prigioni, Pablo (C)	37 – 17 May 1977	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	New York Knicks
G	9	Laprovíttola, Nicolás	24 – 31 January 1990	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)	Flamengo
F	10	Gutiérrez, Leonardo	36 – 16 May 1978	2.00 m (6 ft 7 in)	Peñarol (MdP)
C	11	Delía, Marcos	22 – 8 April 1992	2.09 m (6 ft 10 in)	Boca Juniors
F	12	Herrmann, Walter	35 – 26 June 1979	2.06 m (6 ft 9 in)	Atenas de Córdoba
F	13	Nocioni, Andrés (C)	34 – 30 November 1979	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)	Laboral Kutxa Vitoria
F	14	Bortolín, Matías	21 – 11 April 1993	2.07 m (6 ft 9 in)	Regatas Corrientes
F	15	Safar, Selem	27 – 6 May 1987	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)	Boca Juniors

Head coach

• Julio Lamas

Assistant coach(es)

• Nicolas Casalánguida
• Gonzalo García

For calender issues, team Captain Emmanuel Ginobili has announced that it could not attend the present test match.

The details of the team and logistic information including travel and lodging information would be forwarded to the filipinos in order to prepare their arrival.

 

[Apingdaldal]

The organizers from the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) contracted two (2) aircon buses from JAC Bus Liner for transportation of the Argentina national basketball team and their coaching and support staffs.




The buses would be waiting in the Arrivals parking area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal-3 . Once the Argentinian basketball contingent arrives, they will be fetched by the bus contractors and will head straight to Sofitel Philippine Plaza.

 

[Naio90]

The argentine team and staff would arrive at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal-3 and directly head towards the people waiting for them. They would board the bus and go to the designated hotel, where they would check in and go to their rooms.

During the flight, the coaches would have given the players their schedule for the visit to the Philippines, with meal, training and rest times clearly indicated. The meals would be specially prepared in order to go along with professional-level athletes.

As the matchday grows closer, training would become lighter in order to not over-work the players.

 

[Apingdaldal]

Two (2) days before the match, the Philippine National Team (Gilas Pilipinas) would finish their practice and conditioning sessions. Gilas Pilipinas head coach, Vincent "Chot" Reyes, would discuss final notes and instructions to his players. He would also instruct the players to take one (1) whole day rest before the match "for them to have a recharge" although they are strictly reminded not to avoid alcoholic beverage, unhealthy food, and staying up late at night.

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At Sofitel Philippine Plaza (the hotel accommodation where the Argentine basketball contingent are staying), hotel staffs would prepare their meals according to the request of the Argentine basketball management. They were also informed that they are free to visit the tourist attractions, landmarks, and malls from any part of Metro Manila. Free transportation and 24 hour security are provided to them if they wish to travel.

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Meanwhile, advertisements of the upcoming friendly match is being aired from all TV and radio stations in the Philippines. Tickets at the Mall of Asia Arena are already sold out.

 

[Naio90]

The argentine players would continue their preparation program carefully paying attention to the tactical training sessions. Two days before the match, they would be given half a day free time to visit the city and the surroundings. The players would form small groups and head out to investigate the area, having to be back before 8pm. The last day before the match would only be used for light fitness training and to do pre-competitive exercises.

Hours before the match they would begin with the pre-competition routine and board the bus to the Asia Arena.

In the meantime, argentine fans living in the Philippines and some who traveled all the way to Manila for the match would begin filling the seats of the stadium,

 

[Apingdaldal]

Organizers are busy assisting audiences as they enter the The Mall of Asia Arena. Police security is also tight in the areas of SM Mall of Asia.
In less than two hours before the friendly match between Philippine National Basketball Team (Gilas Pilipinas) and Argentina National Basketball Team; spectators from both Philippines and tourist from Argentina has already filled up The Mall of Asia Arena.

​

As both teams enter the court from their respective locker rooms, the MC’s and event broadcasters announced the players from each team. Both team lined up on the court for the playing of their respective national anthems; with Argentina’s national anthem played first then the Philippine National anthem.

 

[Naio90]

The players would have arrived in the bus to the Arena and would go directly to the dressing rooms. On their way they would answer some quick questions from some argentine sport reporters that were covering the test match.

Once inside, they would all get ready and move on to a last tactical talk with the Head Coach and the assistants. With everything ready, they would jump out to the court in the mids of the cheers of the argentine crowd. They would stand still for the anthem and then move to their initial formation. Everything was set.

 

[Apingdaldal]

It's game time inside the Mall of Asia Arena where the friendly match between Philippines and Argentina is taking place.

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The Philippines established three 10-point leads in the first half, only to be outdone in the dying minutes prior to intermission with a 15-2 Argentina run. In the third quarter, after a 51-all standoff, Luis Scola and company unleashed a 17-2 run for a 68-53 lead.

After Jayson Castro was called for traveling attempting a go-ahead three-pointer, Andres Nocioni hit two late free throws to push Argentina's lead to four with 6.6 seconds to go. Gilas, which had no more time-outs, turned to Andray Blatche who missed a long 3-ball, sealing the loss.

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Luis Scola led Argentina with 19 points and 4 assists while Ranidel De Ocampo top-scored Golas with 18 points and Blatche grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.

Team captain Jimmy Alapag was a huge part of Gilas' strong stand against Argentina. Like what he did in the team's game against Korea over a year ago, the man they call the "Mighty Mouse" made triple after triple to keep Argentina within striking distance. Alapag finished the game with 15 points on 5/7 shooting from the three-point area.

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Asked what inspired him to put on such a performance, Alapag said it was the crowd. "It's rare to have an opportunity to play the number three team in the world, seeing all our kababayans (countrymen) that came out here to show their support, who wouldn't go out there to play a game that they can be proud of," said the sharp-shooting point guard. Gabe Norwood also took some of the spotlight throwing down a vicious one-handed slam over Luis Scola during Gilas' searing run in the first half.

Luis Scola led Argentina with 19 points and 4 assists while Ranidel De Ocampo top-scored Gilas with 18 points and Blatche grabbed a team-high 15 rebounds.

The friendly match ended 85-81 in favor of the Argentinian Team. The Box Score is as follows:



Argentina (85): Scola 19, Mata 17, Laprovittola 10, Herrmann 10, Campazzo 9, Nocioni 9, Prigioni 8, Gutierrez 3

Philippines (81): De Ocampo 18, Alapag 15, Blatche 14, Castro 11, Norwood 6, Fajardo 6, Lee 6, Tenorio 3, Aguilar 2, Pingris 0, Chan 0

Quarter Scoring: 22-25, 43-38, 71-61, 85-81

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Despite the loss, the Gilas Pilipinas players exchanged warm handshakes to the visiting Argentinian team. Philippine coach Chot Reyes also approached Argentinian coach Julio Lamas and shakes his hands.

 

[Naio90]

With the match over, the argentine would gather and approach their filipino counterparts and shake their hands and contratulate them for the good and useful test match they had just completed.

While the players headed to the changing room, 2 or 3 stoped to say some words about the match and the upcoming Olympics the journalists waiting for them.

After showering and changing clothes they would leave on the bus and head to the hotel, where they would have a good dinner and then go to sleep. The next day they would leave the country, each player going back to their clubs.