The color of his jersey had that familiar blue and white on it. Even when his name was announced there were the usual cheers from the crowd. Except that this wasn’t college anymore but in the international arena.
It was no longer for Ateneo de Manila but for the Philippines or “Pilipinas” as it was emblazoned in front of his game jersey.
Yet incredibly, just like the champion Blue Eagles team he just left, he has willfully subjected his talent and scoring prowess for the better of the team. Tiu was far from the leading scorer for the Smart Gilas Men’s National Basketball Team. There were others like Andy Mark Barroca, Dylan Ababou, and Chester Jarrel Giles, the team’s American reinforcement, to provide scoring punch, but his effect on the team is felt in so many other areas.
“The National Team is different from the Blue Eagles because here you’re playing with the best of the other college teams so in terms of talent and leadership, they are all “the man” on their teams,” described Tiu, the Smart Gilas’ Team Captain of his role. “They already know what to do. Here I plug in holes that I need to fill whether on or off the court.”
Tiu was a part of the 12-man squad that donned the Philippines’ colors in the recently-concluded 20th FIBA Asia Champions Cup in Jakarta, Indonesia from May 12-20, 2009 and is the lone Atenean on the squad (although Ford Arao and Ryan Buenafe are in the National Pool). The Philippines was one of the 10 countries that participating in the tournament that features club champions from all over Asia.
After having been suspended from international play by FIBA, the Philippines is back and out to regain lost glory in a sport it once dominated in Asia. The goal of the Smart Gilas program is to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics.
“Dreams do come true and it is very much doable (the Olympic dream),” said Tiu who admitted to fulfilling a boyhood dream of not only representing the country in international competition but also making the quadrennial event which is arguably the world’s biggest sports extravaganza. “We have a very good coach and we have players who can help who are coming in.”
“The pressure – well, I don’t feel it very much yet maybe because it’s not a qualifying tournament for the Olympics” said Tiu of the FIBA Champions Cup in the middle of the tournament. “But it’s still a tournament I hope that we can win. Although it’s going to be very difficult with the level of competition.”
“The pressure is different from playing for an elite university with a few thousand alumni following the team to leading a squad that you have 80-plus million who will be following it. You know there’s gong to be pressure.”
But when needed to step up, the Atenean is ready and willing such as the battle for fifth place with host Satria Muda Indonesia.
The match wasn’t without its share of drama as Indonesia bucked the loss of one of its two American imports to a disqualification foul. Rather than fold, the home team found a wellspring of points and hope in its locals who combined with its remaining American to forge overtime after being down by 10 points with a little over a minute to play.
Tiu, who was having a bad shooting day as he was not fully 100% owing to a nagging quadriceps injury, found a way to get to the free throw line where he could add points from the stripe.
The Pilipinas captain hit four free throws to keep even with the Indonesians as they sent the game into extra time and another four free throws with two crucial steals in the overtime period to seal a hard-fought 112-107 win that gave the Philippines fifth place.
“I fill in wherever the team needs me whether it’s a short pep talk or to guide my teammates or even serve as voice to our head coach (Serbian Rajko Toroman).”
In one team practice at the Blue Eagle Gym a week before the team’s departure for Jakarta, Indonesia where the Smart Gilas team was to participate in its maiden international tourney the 20th FIBA Asia Champions Challenge Cup, teammate Rey Guevarra was having difficulty with the play that Toroman designed for the team.
Tiu who was on the sidelines taking a break offered a simple sentence of advice for the Letran Knights’ slam-dunking star. “Rey, pag-cut mo tignan mo yung gwardiya kasi baka pasahan ka niya ng bola.”
Guevarra nodded and the next time the play was run, he caught the pass, faked a move inside before kicking it out to an open teammate. He gave Tiu a low-five to signify his appreciation.
After the gut-wrenching win versus Indonesia, it was Tiu’s turn to show his appreciation. As the Smart Gilas squad clasped hands center court and turned to wave to the crowd, the captain smiled and waved at the supporters at the Britama Sports Arena where the FIBA tournament. “This is the first step,” he beamed as he gave a thumbs up.
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