Asian Games: Gilas Philippines’ pros of 2018 are very different to the ones who failed against China in 1990 Beijing Games
When the Philippines brought out their PBA stars for the first time in 1990, they were still no match for hosts. Can their modern team make the step up?
For the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, the Philippines decided to send their professional players from the PBA for the first time.
The Gilas had won the first four editions of the Asian Games basketball competition and wanted to show Asia their true colours by sending in the pros. They were aiming at China, who were hosts and favourites for gold.
They met first in a quarter-final group match. And the Gilas were nowhere in sight as China romped to a 125-60 victory – a clear statement that, even with the pros, the Philippines were facing something they’ve never experienced before in their own league.
The format of the competition meant that China and the Philippines would meet again in the final. This time, the Gilas put up a stronger performance but were still no match for the Chinese, who won the gold medal with a 90-76 victory.
A similar scenario is playing out in Jakarta with China and the Philippines again meeting in a pool game. They face each on Tuesday in a group D game with Philippines having already beaten Kazakhstan and China playing their opening game of the three-team group.