Scenes of Patriotism from the Emergency Room. Last night, at the Asian Hospital ER Triage area (yet again, making that the third time in one week) the majority of the ER staff were huddled around the one TV on the waiting area. The atmosphere was tense, palpable and thick - you could cut it with a knife. Everyone held their breath, during the scary moments, and you could almost hear the sighs of relief with each point. It was the last game Gilas Pilipinas was to play in Sevilla, at the FIBA World Cup 2014. As Alapag sank free throw after free throw, as he punched baskets in from the parking lot, as the team hustled their asses off to keep the Senegal win at bay - the game was neck and neck the entire fourth quarter - more and more people started gathering around the TV. Five, ten, twelve, sixteen, twenty people were now standing up, eyes glued to the 32-inch screen just overhead. You could almost sense the panic and the tension, as well as the prayers from each staff member - Dear God, please dont send a Level 1 patient in right now. Just three more minutes, thats all I ask. Just three more minutes. Two minutes. Fajardo shoots to tie the game. 71-71. One Minute. de Ocampo with two free throws. 73-71. Two more free throws from Fajardo take us up to a four point lead. 75-71. Jimmy Alapag sinks two more free throws to bring us to six points up. 77-71. The atmosphere is getting more relaxed with whispered chatter. Forty-Five Seconds. A three from Senegal. 77-74. The room drops to silence as things get tense. Alapag draws another foul but misses the first basket. He sinks the second one. 78-74. Twenty-Two Seconds. Ndour with a triple. 80-77. Another foul. Senegal sinks two and another foul is drawn. 80-79. Jimmy Alapag takes what would be his last time to stand at the free throw line for his country. The net shakes twice as both throws go in. 82-79. Eleven Seconds. Three. Two. One. 82-79. Its all over. Our countrys first FIBA World Cup win in over 30 years. The entire Emergency Ward softly exhales a breath of relief as people reservedly walk away with tiny smiles on their faces. The time for cheering for their country has passed and the time for saving lives resumes again. But no one could deny the extra spring in their steps for the rest of the evening. #LABANGILAS #FIBA2014 #SPAIN2014 #GILASPILIPINAS #WorldCup #Senegal #PusoToTheMax
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 08:14:42 +0000
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