Gilas Pilipinas assistant coach Richard del Rosario called on Filipino sports fans to support the national team through difficult stretches, reminding them that defeats are part of sports and should not overshadow previous achievements.
In a series of social media posts, Del Rosario urged the public to help athletes recover from setbacks instead of piling on criticism when they are already struggling.
“Help 🇵🇭 athletes get up instead of kicking them when they’re down!” Del Rosario wrote.
💯! Help 🇵🇭 athletes get up instead of kicking them when they’re down!
— Richard del Rosario (@charddelrosario) October 19, 2026
Del Rosario also challenged a netizen who called him out for Gilas’ recent Asian Games defeat to look at the national team’s results in perspective, pointing to its victories in previous international competitions.
“Do you expect us to win every game? Weren’t you frustrated back then when we beat Jordan and Iran in the last window? When we became champions in the 2023 Asian Games and when we beat Latvia? Did every challenge in your life end in success? Those aren’t excuses, but facts of life and sports,” he said.
Do you expect us to win every game? Na frustrate ka din ba nung nanalo kami vs Jordan and Iran last window? Nung nag Champion sa 2023 Asian games at Nung tinalo ang Latvia? Lahat ba ng pagsubok mo sa buhay nagtagumpay ka? Hindi excuses kundi facts of life and sports yan.
— Richard del Rosario (@charddelrosario) October 20, 2026
Del Rosario’s remarks came amid criticism following Gilas’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where the Philippines failed to advance to the quarterfinals of the men’s basketball tournament.
The national team suffered a 44-point defeat to China, 105-61, in its final group-stage game, ending its bid to defend the gold medal it won in Hangzhou in 2023.
While acknowledging the disappointment surrounding the team’s performance, Del Rosario stressed that setbacks should not erase the accomplishments of Filipino athletes or prevent them from receiving support as they work to improve. (Adrian Co)
