I still remember the electric atmosphere in Manila during those September days back in 2019, when the Philippines hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup group stages. The entire nation seemed to hold its breath every time our national team stepped onto the court. What struck me most wasn't just the games themselves, but the stories unfolding behind the scenes - stories of perseverance that often get lost in the final scorelines. One particular moment that has stayed with me was watching Terrence Ross's journey, which perfectly encapsulated the spirit of our national team throughout that tournament.
I recall sitting in the media section during practice sessions, watching Ross put up shot after shot long after other players had headed to the locker rooms. There was something different about his focus, an intensity that suggested this tournament meant more than just another international competition. When he finally spoke to reporters, his words revealed the mental preparation behind his physical efforts. "All I was thinking about since Sunday night was getting my chance. And when I had my chance, I wanted to take full advantage of it," he told us, his voice steady but carrying that unmistakable determination I've come to recognize in athletes who have something to prove, not to critics, but to themselves. That mentality, I believe, represented what our entire national team embodied during those challenging games.
The Philippines faced what many considered the "group of death," with Serbia, Italy, and Angola in Group D. Our opening match against Serbia on September 1st drew approximately 18,000 fans to the Araneta Coliseum, creating an atmosphere I haven't experienced since the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. Despite the 126-67 final score not going our way, what many didn't see were the small victories within the game - the defensive adjustments coach Yeng Guiao implemented during the second quarter that actually limited Serbia to just 18 points in that period, compared to the 37 they dropped in the first. I remember making notes about how our players kept fighting for every loose ball, even when down by 40 points, that mentality Ross had spoken about visibly translating to the court.
What fascinates me about international basketball is how it reveals character, and our game against Italy on September 3rd showed exactly that. We lost 108-62, but watching Ross contribute 13 points in just 18 minutes of play demonstrated exactly what he meant about taking full advantage of his opportunity. His shooting percentage of 46% from the field might not seem spectacular on paper, but having watched every possession, I can tell you those were hard-earned baskets against one of Europe's best defensive teams. There's a particular three-pointer he hit in the third quarter that I still recall vividly - coming off a screen, catching the ball with his shooting hand already positioned, and releasing it in one fluid motion while contested. That's the result of the super hard work on his body he mentioned, the kind of preparation that often goes unnoticed until the moment arrives.
Our final group game against Angola on September 5th provided what I consider the tournament's most meaningful moment for Philippine basketball, despite the 84-81 overtime loss. The statistical improvements were remarkable - we reduced our turnover count from 22 against Serbia to just 11, our field goal percentage jumped from 31% to 43%, and we outrebounded Angola 48-42. But numbers alone can't capture the emotional rollercoaster of that game. I remember the arena erupting when Andray Blatche hit that tying three-pointer with 12 seconds left in regulation, sending the game to overtime. The collective hope in that moment was palpable, the kind of sporting moment that reminds you why you fell in love with basketball in the first place.
Ross's journey throughout the tournament mirrored our national team's progression. From limited minutes in the first game to becoming a crucial part of the rotation by the Angola match, his 18 points in 26 minutes demonstrated that evolution. "We've been working really hard since. I personally have been working super hard on my body, trying to get healthy and wait for this opportunity to prove, not prove anyone wrong, but prove myself right," he had said, and watching his performance develop through the tournament, I saw that philosophy in action. There's something profoundly authentic about an athlete who focuses on self-validation rather than external approval, and I've always believed that mentality separates transient talents from lasting contributors.
The Philippines finished group play with an 0-3 record, but reducing our evaluation to just wins and losses misses the broader narrative. Our average margin of defeat improved from 59 against Serbia to 46 against Italy to just 3 in overtime against Angola. That progression tells the real story - of a team growing together, adapting to challenges, and building toward something greater. Having covered Philippine basketball for over fifteen years, I've learned that development isn't always linear and victories aren't always reflected in the win column. Sometimes they're in the defensive stance a player maintains even when exhausted, the extra pass made instead of forcing a contested shot, or the resilience to bounce back from two difficult losses to nearly secure what would have been a memorable victory.
What stays with me years later aren't just the game outcomes but the human elements - the determination in Ross's eyes during that final press conference, the way coach Guiao remained steadfast in his belief in the system despite the results, the fans who continued cheering until the final buzzer of our last game. These moments form the true legacy of our 2019 World Cup journey, creating foundations upon which future Philippine basketball successes can be built. The tournament may not have yielded the victories we hoped for, but it provided something perhaps more valuable - clarity about where we stood internationally and what we needed to improve. And in the grand scheme of basketball development, that honest assessment proves more useful than any single win could have been.
