Duterte presence in Gilas game to boost morale, Bong Go believes

Senator Bong Go believes that President Rodrigo Duterte's presence in the Philippine national basketball team's opening game against Italy in the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup will be a "morale booster."

"Hinimok ko pong pumunta si Pangulong Duterte," said Go, the chairman the Senate committee on sports who previously served as Duterte's special assistant, on Wednesday.

"Magiging morale booster po itong pagpunta ni Pangulo," he added.

Go made the remarks a day after the country's chief executive played down the chances of Gilas Pilipinas against a taller Italy squad.

"Ang problema ang unang kalaban natin Italy. Wala. Walang laban. Walang tayo diyan. China na lang tayo magpusta. Wala. Ay sus. Pa-corny ka pa. Wala talaga tayo," Duterte said  in a speech before the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc. in Malacañang on Tuesday.

"We will lose dito sa Italian, ang lalaki kaya niyang mga gagong ‘yan."

Saying Gilas tapped him as a special adviser, Go described the match-up against Italy as make or break, as it would bode well for the Philippines' chances to advance to the second round of the competition.

For his part, Go did not seem to share Duterte's assessment of Gilas' chances against Italy.

“Mabibilis naman tayo at tsaka matatalino tayo. Ang galing ng Pilipino. Ako, I believe in our team,” Go said. “Malay mo ma-tsambahan natin.” —Joviland Rita/JST, GMA News