House of Representatives honors MVP

& Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team

Members of the House of Representatives led by Speaker Feliciano Belmonte, Jr.
paid honor to businessman and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SB! president Manuel
". an#ilinan, and members and officials of the $ilas ilipinas %ational Basketball &eam,
'hich 'on its first victory in () years 'ith a triumph over Sene#al in the *)+(
,nternational Basketball Federation (F,B-! .orld /up of Basketball.
,n ceremonies held &hursday, September +0 at the Speaker1s Social Hall, la'makers
presented House Resolution %o. +*2 to businessman and Samahang Basketbol ng
Pilipinas (SB! president Manuel ". an#ilinan for his untirin# support and inimitable
dedication to $ilas ilipinas and the country1s basketball in #eneral, resultin# in an
impressive and commendable performance by the national team.
3&he hilippine #overnment, the national basketball team and the Filipino people
are e4tremely #rateful to Mr. an#ilinan for championin# the Filipino talent, encoura#in#
the Filipino spirit and assistin# the country to reach #reater hei#hts in the field of sports,5
the resolution stated.
/ontinuin# his advocacy to promote sports development in the country, the
resolution said an#ilinan is vi#orously campai#nin# for the country to host the ne4t F,B-
.orld /up in *)+2, an event the country last hosted in +260.
House members mean'hile handed to $ilas ilipinas head coach /hot Reyes and
the team players and officials a copy of House Resolution %o. +7), commendin# them for
their #allant efforts and competitive spirit durin# the *)+( F,B- .orld /up held in
Seville, Spain.
3&he #allant efforts of $ilas ilipinas to brin# the hilippines back to a place of
#lory arena of competitive basketball have brou#ht a #reat sense of national pride and
honor to every Filipino and deserve the rene'ed administration and respect of the 'hole
Filipino nation and of every basketball fan,5 the resolution stated.
Furthermore, it said 3&he hard 'ork, stron# determination and competitive spirit of
the players and coaches of $ilas ilipinas, 'hich 'on the admiration and praise not only
of the Filipino basketball fans but also of the forei#n media and sports analysts coverin#
the *)+( F,B- .orld /up of Basketball, finally paid off 'hen the team 'on their final
#roup assi#nment a#ainst Sene#al.5
,n 'elcomin# an#ilinan and the $ilas ilipinas team, the Speaker said la'makers
are honored by their presence in /on#ress. He said Filipinos 'ere in full support of the
NR # 3594C
SEPT. 19, 2014
team durin# the entire duration of its recent 8uest for victory.
3-ll of us assiduously follo'ed the course of your adventure in 9urope. -nd 'e felt
every moment of it. .hen you 'ere on the ver#e of beatin# #iants, our hearts 'ere also
aflutter. -t the end of the day, 'ith a little prayer, you could have beaten any of those
teams. But the differences 'ere so small. :ou could really ascribe this to their e4perience
and so forth. But you did 'in the #ame, the first one of that level that 'e have 'on in 7)..
() years,5 said the Speaker.
He said the House of Representatives is truly proud of the $ilas ilipinas team. 3.e
in the House are all very proud of you, and 'e say let1s #ive them a pat on the back to
send them off to the ne4t battles,5 said the Speaker.
&he House leader like'ise ackno'led#ed the support of an#ilinan. 3;f course 'e
honor as 'ell the person 'ho has made possible the or#ani<ation of $ilas ilipinas. .e
honor him as 'ell.5 He said an#ilinan nurtured the national basketball team 'ith his
attention and support.
,n behalf of the team, an#ilinan thanked the support of la'makers. He said the
recent victory of $ilas ilipinas proved that Filipino athletes are capable of 'innin#.
&hank you so much for the support. &hank you for brin#in# $ilas ilipinas to 'here
it is.
&he team did 'ell. (,t proved! &he Filipino player can,5 he said.
.ith the Speaker durin# the event 'ere =eputy Speaker Ronaldo uno, Ma>ority
?eader %eptali $on<ales ,,, Reps. .inston /astelo, 9lenita 9rmita@Buhain, Ben
9vardone, Joseller 3:en#5 $uiao, Josephine ?acson@%oel, 9dcel 3$re45 ?a#man, Mark
?landro Mendo<a, Romero Auimbo, $abrielle ?uis Auisumbin#, Baby -renas and her
dau#hter former Rep. Rachel -renas, /esar Sarmiento, Jeffrey Bhon#hun, Ro#elio %eil
epito Ro8ue, 9nri8ue /o>uan#co, =akila /ua, and &erry Ridon. (7)! rbb