After ‘defeatist’ remark, Duterte to ‘personally cheer’ for Gilas vs Italy

MANILA, Philippines — After casting doubts on Gilas Pilipinas’ chances against Italy in the 2019 Fiba World Cup, President Rodrigo Duterte will nevertheless watch the national basketball team’s

In a pre-departure briefing in Malacañang on Friday, August 23, 2019, Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Meynardo Montealegre said Duterte, who is set to fly to China next week for a working visit, will “personally cheer” for Gilas Pilipinas when they take on the Italian squad on August 31.

This is despite Duterte’s earlier pronouncements that Gilas Pilipinas will surely lose against the much taller Italian team.The Philippines is bracketed with Italy, Serbia, and Angola in Group D of the Basketball World Cup group stage. “Ang problema ang unang kalaban natin Italy. Wala … walang laban. Walang tayo diyan. China na lang tayo magpusta,” Duterte said in a speech before Filipino-Chinese businessmen.But the President is confident Gilas can easily beat Angola in their matchup.After their game against Italy, Gilas Pilipinas will face Serbia on September 2 before wrapping up the group phase against Angola on September 4.

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