What many may consider as a debacle can also be a positive sign of things to come. Gilas Pilipinas, the country’s National men’s basketball squad, went 0-2 in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) recently held in home grounds and had the door to the 2016 Rio Olympics closed on the Philippines’ hopes of qualifying for the first time in over 40 years. Two years ago in Spain, Gilas earned the whole world’s respect with an outstanding performance in the 2014 World Cup that included tight battles against former world champions Greece (70-82) and Argentina (81-85), and South American heavyweight Puerto Rico (73-77). In the same event, the Philippines scored its first victory in the World Cup after so many years by nipping African powerhouse Senegal, 81-79.