Ni Ernest Hernandez
PARA kay Gabe Norwood, kalabaw lang ang tumatanda.
At sa edad na 32-anyos, kumpiyansa ang Fil-American forward na matutulungan niya – kahit sa leadership – ang Philippine Gilas basketball team sa kampanya sa FIBA Asian sa Beirut, Lebanon.
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“The old man,” pagbibiro ni Norwood. “You can be straight with that. I’m the old man on the team.”
Pinakabeterano si Norwood sa bagong grupo ng Gilas na pinili ni coach Chiot Reyes na sasabak sa pinakamalaking torneo sa Asian basketball. Unang sumalang sa national Team si Norwood noong 2007 William Jones Cup at bahagi ng 2007 FIBA Asia RP squad. Aniya, walang kapantay na saya at karangalan ang maglaro para sa bayan.
“Ten years ago, Coach Chot found me and I played and represented the country. It is an honor that ten years later, I can still be there and still be present,” aniya.
Aminado naman si Norwood, naglalaro sa ikawalong season sa Rain or Shine Elasto Painters sa PBA, na ito na ang huling hirit niya sa Gilas.
“You never know when these opportunities come. Who could say, this could be my last go-around, so I just really want to enjoy and keep us a high standard in the Philippines that it is right now,” pahayag ni Norwood.
Makakasama ni Norwood at inaasahang gagabayan ang mga bagito sa koponan na sina Raymond Almazan, Matthew Wright, Jiovanni Jalalon, RR Pogoy, Carl Bryan Cruz at Christian Standhardinger.
Tanging sina Jayson Castro at Japeth Aguilar ang player sa Gilas na lagpas na s 30 ang edad.
Sa kabila nito, walang alalahanin, bagkus kasiyahan ang kanyang nadarama higit at maraming karanasana na maibabahagi niya sa mga kasangga na inaasahan niyang makakapag-adjust sa istilo ng isa’t isa bago ang FIBA Asia tournament.
“It is good. A lot of the young kids,” sambit ni Norwood.
“I was able to watch the Jones Cup and SEABA, they are exciting, we are pretty athletic and hopefully we can come together and go on the same page as early as possible.”
Malaking kawalan si naturalized import Andray Blatche, ngunit sinabi ni Norwood na malaki ang tsansa ng Gilas sa torneo.
“I hope so. I don’t know,” aniya.
“I really didn’t look at the rosters of the other teams and other countries but I think Christian came in and played great. His energy seems like it is contagious and everybody seems to pick up from that. He is a team guy and he comes in to defend his brothers.”
“Still, Dray is NBA legit player and to lose that is big but also an opportunity for others to step up,” pahayag ni Norwood.
