Gilas Pilipinas' victory over China on Saturday, September 2, 2023, marked the first time the Philippines had won a game at the FIBA World Cup in nearly a decade.
FIBA stands for Fédération Internationale de Basketball, or the International Basketball Association, and governs international basketball competitions.
The game finished with a score of 96-75 to the delight of the predominantly Filipino crowd who watched the game at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City.
Jordan Clarkson, who is playing for the Utah Jazz in the NBA, led the fight for the Philippine national team with 34 points, including a scintillating 24-point performance in the third quarter to put the squad firmly in front.
Gilas Pilipinas lost three straight games in the tournament prior to the win against China.
MORE THAN JUST A GAME
For some fans, the game was more than just basketball between the two competing countries.
The bilateral relationship between the Philippines and China is tense because of an ongoing maritime dispute, made worse by a recent incident involving Chinese coastguard spraying water cannon on a Philippine vessel while on a resupply mission.
Read: Believe it or not, may tindahan na matatagpuan sa gitna ng mataas na rock wall sa China
This was one of the reasons why Filipino fans were hyped up going into the basketball game, treating it as a battle for national pride in light of recent events.
Celebrities and high-profile personalities were also in attendance during the game including actor Jake Ejercito, who watched with his daughter Ellie Eigenmann.
Jake posted on X (formerly Twitter) a photo of him and Ellie inside the arena with a funny caption typical of their father-daughter bantering.
"We're lucky charms," wrote Jake.
"No. Me lang," replied Ellie.
Me: We’re lucky charms!!
— jake ejercito (@unoemilio) September 2, 2023
Ellie: No. Me lang#GilasPilipinas ???????? pic.twitter.com/GlzxzRdw07
Read: Jake Ejercito's amusing reaction after offering daughter Ellie chance to see Taylor Swift live
JAKE THROWING SHADE
Jake's next post though took a sarcastic turn, hinting at the hypocrisy of some in the audience inside the venue.
He wrote, "But lol [laugh out loud] at those wearing 'West Philippine Sea' shirts but were as still as the grave between 2016-2022 [clown emoji]."
But lol at those wearing “West Philippine Sea” shirts but were as still as the grave between 2016-2022 ????
— jake ejercito (@unoemilio) September 2, 2023
Immediately, many surmised that Jake was alluding to Senators Joel Villanueva, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go, and Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa.
LOOK: Philippine senators were hyped during the Gilas Pilipinas—China game, where our country won with a huge lead against our Asian neighbor. (????: Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News) pic.twitter.com/Gggnn7Mh3w
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) September 2, 2023
The four were seen and photographed wearing matching black shirts with the print, 'WEST PH SEA,' which stands for West Philippine Sea.
The West Philippine Sea is a portion of the South China Sea, and is part of the Philippines' exclusive economic zone.
It has become, however, a disputed territory due to China's sovereignty claim over the whole South China Sea.
In 2013, then President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III initiated the country's assertion of its sovereign rights in the West Philippine Sea, filing an arbitration against China before the United Nations-backed tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.
The international tribunal unanimously ruled in favor of the Philippines in 2016, invalidating China's claim on the entire South China Sea.
The ruling recognizes the Philippines' sovereign rights in areas within its 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone contested by China.
However, Aquino's successor, Rodrigo Duterte, took on a more friendly approach toward China, disregarding the Hague court ruling and calling it a "piece of paper" that he would just "throw away."
Duterte's unwillingness to impose the country's rights has seemingly emboldened China, unlawfully establishing infrastructures on artificial islands around the territory.
Read: President Rodrigo Duterte admits using "presidential powers" against ABS-CBN
It's worth noting that Villanueva, Zubiri, Go, and dela Rosa were already in the Senate during Duterte's incumbency and, as observed by critics, were lukewarm about the China issue at the time.
Jake's post was filled with approving comments, with many assuming that the actor was referring to the four senators.
One comment reads, "Agree. They can only wear statement shirts and that’s all. Ironically they don’t have [the] balls to even engage in sound arguments and interpolations while at [the] Senate whenever WPS matters are discussed. All for the show!"
Another netizen wrote, "For re-election purposes [clown emoji]. Watch them do absolutely nothing for WPS [West Philippine Sea] when it really matters."
Another follower of Jake remarked, "Pakitang GILAS din ang mga gunggong na yan para masabing pinaglalaban nila ang pag-aari ng bansa, kadiring mga pulitiko lahat gagawin para lang maging malinis ang paningin ng mga tao sa kanila...kakadiri talaga."
Meanwhile, Senator Francis Tolentino defended his colleagues against public criticism in an interview on Sunday, September 3, 2023, a day after the game.
"It is one way of showing our unity. Hindi ito first time makita. 'Yung opening game natin sa Philippine Arena, may nakasuot na ng ganoon. Kulay pula nga lang," Tolentino told Teleradyo Serbisyo.
He added, "Walang masama doon sa nagpapakita ng kanilang personal political belief na atin ang West Philippine Sea even if in a sports that is FIBA.
"I don't see anything wrong with that."