After 61 years of heartbreak, the Philippines has finally regained its status as Asia's basketball king. Since 1966, when they lost to Israel in Bangkok, they have experienced one disappointment after another.
In their latest triumph, Gilas Pilipinas defeated Jordan 70-60, after previously facing the possibility of elimination. The team matched Jordan's energy and refused to succumb to pressure, hitting crucial shots to secure the historic win. The game delighted the Filipino crowd, including Dickie Bachmann, the son of Olympian Kurt Bachmann, who was a member of the last Philippine basketball team to win the Asian Games title in 1962.
The coach of the team that won this year's championship is American Tim Cone.
The victory is expected to rekindle interest in the sport, particularly among youth players. This includes high school students from over 200 schools nationwide, who will participate in the National Basketball Championship (NBC) Inter-High tournament, set to start on October 13th in San Fernando, Pampanga.
The tournament was organized by Jams Sports, under the supervision of Jams Entertainment Corporation, to give young players another venue to develop their skills. The league will be launched on Sunday, October 8th, at the Don Bosco Academy in Mabalacat.
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