The T-shirts that a number of senators wore throughout Gilas Pilipinas’ profitable match towards China on the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup on Saturday have been a message to China that the West Philippine Sea (WPS) belongs to the Philippines, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri mentioned.
“We showed the bully in the North that we shall not be allowed to be bullied in our own home and that we rallied together as a Nation to pray and cheer for our Team Gilas!” Zubiri mentioned in a press release on Sunday.
“We may not have won any of our games for the world championships but this win was the sweetest of all. Nagpalabas sila ng 10-dash line so itong pagsuot ng t-shirt is a statement na atin ang West Philippine Sea,” he added.
(China launched its map with 10-dash line map so carrying this T-shirt is a press release that the West Philippine Sea is ours.)
Senate President Migz Zubiri: This was an important recreation of all! For our Pride and for our Mother Land the Philippines. (1/2) Photo from Zubiri @gmanews pic.twitter.com/iI6HnDxwmd
— Hana Bordey (@HanaBordey) September 3, 2023
This was in reference to China’s publication of a brand new map that has a ten-dash line, putting Taiwan, almost your entire South China Sea, and the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh inside its nationwide boundaries.
The Philippines, amongst different nations within the area, has rejected China’s new map.
The Gilas Pilipinas, led by Jordan Clarkson’s 34 factors, closed out their marketing campaign within the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup on a excessive be aware as they blew out China, 96-75, on Saturday on the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
In a separate assertion, Senator Bong Go mentioned that the sport towards China was a “morale-boosting win for every Filipino.”
“Nais lang namin ipakita sa pamamagitan ng T-shirt na iyon ang aming pakikiisa at walang tigil na suporta sa ating koponan at sa buong sambayanang Pilipino. Atin ang West Philippine Sea, atin rin ang panalong ito!” he mentioned.
(We simply need to present by means of that t-shirt our solidarity and unceasing help to our workforce and your entire nation. The West Philippine Sea is ours, this victory is ours too.)
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, in the meantime, careworn that the basketball win was devoted to Filipinos, particularly to the native fishermen who enterprise within the WPS.
“We wore that shirt to awaken the patriotic spirit of our Gilas Pilipinas and motivate them to exhaust all their remaining talents, skills and teamwork in order to secure the victory which is symbolic for us Filipinos in light of the recent developments in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
Senator Joel Villanueva also expressed his delight over the match results.
“Most important basketball game of the year! It feels like we won the championship!! Our Gilas fought well, like each and everyone of them knows the story of Ayungin, Recto Bank, Pag-asa island, etc.,” he said.
Senator Imee Marcos, for her part, said that after winning against China with 21 points, she proposes the Philippines to redraw its map too “to encompass the new ‘21-dash line of Philippines.’” — BM, GMA Integrated News
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
