The Gilas Pilipinas national basketball team could have felt more victorious than ever.
Not in a basketball game against the world's best, but against a tragedy that almost got them in the clutches of harm.
After the news broke out that the Islamic State instigated a terror attack at the Ataturk airport at Istanbul, it was also confirmed that the national team has already boarded a flight from the Turkish city to Manila just less than 24 hours after the attack.
The atrocity has killed at least 30 lives and wounded about a hundred people.
Three suicide bombers opened fire to passengers before blowing themselves up at the Istanbul Ataturk Airport, the third busiest in Europe, on Tuesday.
Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tab Baldwin took on to Twitter to express his relief and grief as he remembers Turkey as his home.
Turkey was my home 4 nearly 3 years. So saddened & worried for friends there. Thank the Lord our Gilas and Turk teams are safe. #Prayers— Tab Baldwin (@iHob1111) June 29, 2016
Team manager Butch Antonio and TV5 correspondent Carlo Pamintuan also commented on the close escape.
Thank you lord for our (Gilas) safe passage out of Istanbul. I'm saddened by what just happened at the Istanbul airport.— Butch Antonio (@BAAntonio) June 28, 2016
Wtf. We were with Gilas there not even 24 hours ago. https://t.co/Mmlv6nSVTD— Carlo Pamintuan (@carlo_pamintuan) June 28, 2016
Oh man. I don't know what to feel. We were literally inside that store yesterday. https://t.co/xYTMEXGFfi— Carlo Pamintuan (@carlo_pamintuan) June 28, 2016
National team stalwarts Marc Pingris and naturalized player Andray Blatche felt relieved to have escaped the tragedy.
"Grabe dito lang kami kanina pauwi galing Manila wala pang five hours bago nangyari to. LORD SALAMAT SA PAG GABAY MO SA AMIN NG TEAM GILAS. #prayforturkey #istanbul," Pingris wrote on his Instagram.
"Me and my teammates was just there wow thank you God for watching over us I’m really lost for words I woke up to a lot of texts from friends checking on me I’m ok thanx love yal," wrote the naturalized center.
The Turkish national team, which will also compete in the Olympic qualifying tournament here next week, was in the same flight as Gilas.
The Nationals came home after a three-week training camp in Europe.
Gilas is set to face Turkey anew in a tune-up game on Friday at Mall of Asia Arena.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer Interaksyon
Image: CNN Philippines
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