{mosimage} Eyes frequently scan the exit from the locker room.  Are they out yet? The camera is switched on and off, checked and counter checked every minute or so. Are the settings just fine? Feet incessantly tap the wooden floors. The flag of red, white and blue with the sun and three stars is out. Then a whisper, “They’re coming!”

Alas! They’re out! There’s a scent of expectation in the air. It’s in every eyes you lock into as you scan the rest of the crowd. It’s in the knowing smiles of both the men and women who will, in a few minutes, erupt into thunderous applause, searing screams of ‘Defense!’ once the ball is possessed by the opponents, and who will jump on their feet after each three-pointer and of course, the much awaited dunks!

Yes, basketball enthusiasts out there, it’s show time!!!

This is one game loved by every Filipino, so it seems. As there are many Catholics in the Philippines, so there seems to be more of this sport’s fans all over the country. And even when they are far from home, they will endure the 3 hours drive from the capital just to experience the exhilaration from a good game of basketball.

And so for four nights in a row, Filipinos from around Rachaburi and the capital, have been faithful to the Pilipinas team of basketball players who have come to prove to ourselves and to countries around the South East Asia region, that when it comes to this ball game, we still rule!

The height and power of Asi, the flawless tandem of Mark and JJ, the consistency and sureness of Danny Siegle’s drives to the basket, the effortless three point shots of Ren-Ren, the leadership and stability of Don-Don, and so much more. But it’s the dunks that get me and the rest of the crowd screaming madly on our feet. And that night, when Team Pilipinas played the Malaysians, Coach Chot Reyes wasn’t one to disappoint the crowds that have come a long way to be awed. They all had their fair share of the glory against the spirited Malaysian with their dunks– Danny Seigle, Asi, KG, Rico, and yes, our small but mighty pointguard, Jimmy Alapag!

The Malaysian team was not about to give up the game without a fight, and for a while during the first half, it looked like it was going to be a fight to the finish. The players who hail from the Petronas Towers held their ground, getting through the Philippines’ defense and hammering hard on the three-point shots.

But the Philippines team had another plan. Ren-Ren, to the crowd’s pure delight, sank 9 out of 12 from the three-point line!

In Coach Chot’s simple words, the team has its “victory”, for what they all have come to accomplish in the South East Asian Basketball Association games is just a night away from being finished.

But it’s far from over, though the finish line is already in plain sight. And it’s now safe to say we have victory since the other teams have been trailing behind by at least 30 points in every game. The best, though, is yet to come tomorrow. To many of the spectators, this last opponent of the Philippines team may not be a perfect match in skills, experience and potential, but since this is the home country’s reps, the battle won’t be in court. It will be fought on the bleachers, to see who will win in the cheers. The last three nights, the Pinoy cheerers have enjoyed unrivaled noise on the bleachers. Tomorrow, when the Thais descend on the Rachaburi stadium, will this handful of Pinoys be able to compete with the sheer number?

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