GILAS Pilipinas was the talk of the town in this day eight years ago, with coach Chot Reyes and his gallant 14 bringing home from Taipei the 2012 William Jones Cup trophy.
The PBA was then on a break, and 11 PBA players served duty to the national team, with their title conquest in Taipei sparking a great ride climaxed by a stirring showing in the 2014 World Cup in Spain.
Aug. 26, 2012 was a date to remember - the culmination of a successful journey with Gilas hoisting a fourth Jones Cup trophy for the Philippines.
Then PBA commissioner Chito Salud, chairman Ramon Segismundo and future commissioner Willie Marcial were among the Filipinos in the gallery, witnessing a glorious feat by the Nationals against a jolted American side in the finale of the nine-day event also participated in by Iran, South Korea, Japan, Lebanon, Jordan and two teams from Taipei.
LA Tenorio, Gilas' biggest hero who would win the MVP award, led the list of PBA players including Ranidel de Ocampo, Larry Fonacier, Gary David, Sonny Thoss, Enrico Villanueva, Gabe Norwood, Jeff Chan, JayR Reyes, Sol Mercado and Mac Baracael.
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Completing the triumphant roster were naturalized player Marcus Douthit and then amateurs Garvo Lanete and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser.
This brave bunch won the championship, adding to early Jones Cup wins by the Philippines in 1982, 1985 and 1998, with a 7-1 win-loss record as against Iran's 6-2 and the similar 5-3 slates of the USA, Chinese Taipei Team A and South Korea.
The Philippines' lone defeat then came at the hands of the Lebanon squad powered by former PBA import Jarrid Famous.
Tenorio put in a performance to remember, and the Nationals came through with a classic come-from-behind 76-75 win over the Americans to snatch the crown.
Then still with Alaska Milk, Tenorio scored 20 points, including the go-ahead basket with 17 seconds to go.
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Before that Tenorio masterminded a Philippine comeback from a 13-point halftime deficit. (SB)
