Senators on Sunday, September 3 expressed their heartfelt gratitude and admiration to Gilas Pilipinas for ending the slump and winning against China over the weekend at the FIBA World Cup.

From left to right: Senators Christopher "Bong" Go, Sen. Sonny Angara, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, and Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa wore 'West PH Sea' shirts during Gilas Pilipinas' fight against China on Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (Photo courtesy of O/S Senate President)

From left: Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, Senate President Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri and Sen. Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa. (Photo courtesy of O/S Senate President)

Wearing “WEST PH SEA” shirts in black during the game, Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and other senators rejoiced at the Philippine basketball team for winning the game which they consider the “most important game of all!”

“This was the most important game of all! For our Pride and for our Mother Land the Philippines. We showed the bully in the North that we shall not be allowed to be bullied in our own home and that we rallied together as a Nation to pray and cheer for our Team Gilas!” Zubiri said.

“We may not have won any of our games for the world championships but this win was the sweetest of all,” the Senate leader added.

Zubiri admitted they wore the shirts as part of their protest against China’s release of their 2023 standard map showing the 10-dash line.

“Nagpalabas sila ng 10 dash line so itong pagsuot ng t-shirt is a statement na atin ang West Philippine Sea. Mabuhay ang Gilas! Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! (They released a 10-dash line map so our wearing of this t-shirt is a statement that the West Philippine Sea is ours. Hail Gilas! Hail the Philippines!)” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva also commended the team for fighting well in what he said is the “most important basketball game of the year!”

“It feels like we won the championships!” Villanueva said.

“Our Gilas Pilipinas fought well, like each and everyone of them knows the story of Ayungin, Recto Bank, Pag asa island, etc. So proud of them! Everyone contributed! We saw a different Gilas Team, there’s fire in their eyes! And Jordan Clarkson was a beast! He was like a video player in the 3rd quarter. Yahooooo! Soooo happy! We should all commend our national team!” he added.

Sen. Imee Marcos, for her part, suggested that after Gilas Pilipinas’ win against China with 21 points, “I propose we re-draw our map too to encompass the new 21-dash line of the Philippines.”

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go also lauded the Philippine team for going all out during their fight against China.

“Yan ang pusong Pilipino na patuloy na lumalaban hanggang sa dulo. Saludo ako sa players, coaches at pati fans dahil nanaig ang ating (That’s the heart of the Filipino to fight until the end. I salute our players, coaches, and even fans, because we allowed to prevail our) ‘never say die’ attitude. At hindi tayo nawalan ng pag-asa na makakuha ng puntos sa 2023 FIBA World Cup lalo na’t tayo ang host country (We didn’t lose hope to get a point in the 2023 FIBA World Cup especially when we are the host country),” Go said.

While it is sad to see the Philippine team’s failure to qualify for the upcoming Paris Olympics, Go said Gilas Pilipinas still did not disappoint their home crowd.

“Equally important is that this win over China's team is a morale-boosting win for every Filipino, especially amid recent challenges we are facing over the West Philippine Sea,” Go said.

Go said he too wore the West Philippine Sea t-shirt to show to the world the government’s continuous support for the country’s team and to the whole Filipino community.

“Atin ang West Philippine Sea, atin rin ang panalong ito! (The West Philippine Sea is ours, this victory is also ours!), Go stressed.

“We wore that shirt to awaken the patriotic spirit of our Gilas Pilipinas and motivate them to exhaust all their remaining talents, skills and teamwork in order to secure the victory which is symbolic for us Filipinos in light of the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea,” Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa also said.

Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino, who was not able to watch the game, defended his colleagues from critics who scored them for wearing the West PH Sea t-shirt overwhat they said is a “friendly game.”

“All of us have the right to freedom of expression. (That is) one way of showing their unity. Hindi ito first time nakita, iyong opening natin sa Philippine Arena, may mga nakasuot na nang ganun kulay pula nga lang (This isn’t the first time they have done it, during the opening at the Philippine Arena, there were others who have also worn the same thing, but the words were in red),” Tolentino said in an interview on Teleradyo 630.

“Walang masama doon sa pagpapakita ng kanilang beliefs na atin ang (There’s nothing wrong with showing our beliefs regarding our stand on the) West Philippine Sea even in FIBA,” the senator stressed.