Jakarta, Indonesia –Asian Games gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz will be leading a small group of Filipino fans cheering the Philippine basketball team when it takes on Korea at the Gelora Bung Karno Basketball Hall in the quarterfinals of the basketball competitions at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. in Manila) here today (Monday).
A pleasant surprise greeted the Rain or Shine-lead PH team when the 27-year-old Diaz dropped by the team’s practice last Saturday afternoon and had a brief conversation with NBA star Jordan Clarkson, coach Yeng Guiao and other members of the team.
“I try to encourage my fellow Filipino athletes to keep pushing, to keep fighting for flag and country,” said the Asiad weightlifting gold medalist. “For me, if I was able to do it, win the gold, I’m confident our other athletes can also do it and I’m supporting them all out. I want to inspire them.”
Diaz, who was also the silver medalist in the Rio Olympics that led to her being named the 2016 Philippine Sportswriters Association Athlete of the Year, expressed confidence the Nationals can beat Koreans.
“I’m confident they can win that, so I want to cheer for them, be part of the Filipino crowd at the venue,” said Diaz of the PH-Korea game, which interestingly coincides with the celebration of the National Heroes Day back home.
Diaz was particularly impressed with Clarkson, who she shares a couple of similar traits.
“Jordan is also quiet just like me, very simple, but a very nice person,” added Diaz. “I asked him how he feels playing for the national team, and he said it’s an honor and that he’s proud to represent the Philippines, just like me.”
Diaz, who won the gold in the women’s 53-kilogram division as she bested Kristina Shermetova of Turkmenistan and Surodchana Khambao of Thailand last Tuesday, has become some sort of a head cheerleader for the PH team in these games, supporting her fellow athletes whenever she can.
After winning against Kazakhstan, 96-59, and losing to the Chinese, 80-82, the Nationals are hoping that they are close to achieving the chemistry Guiao wants to see in his wards.
Guiao said cohesion could come in handy against the Koreans, who have been a pain in the neck of the Filipinos in past Asian Games.
“I have a good feeling that with Clarkson, and of course the way the players are playing, the way they are developing and the way we are getting that cohesion, I think things are even this time going to the game against Korea,” said Guiao.
“Historically, the Koreans… it’s always hard to win against them, and most of the time our national team ends up losing,” added Guiao. “The players are really motivated. As I have mentioned, we will prepare as hard as we can, and we’ll play as hard as we can just like we did in our game against China.”