"In Misfits We Trust"
A sign from a Team Pilipinas fan says it all "In Misfits We Trust" but those fans were in shock as they saw the starting lineup.
No Besa, Madrigal, Dakun, Daypuyat, Margarico. Instead it was a team composed of mostly 2nd stringers Pacquing at SG, Tenosa and Emolaga at the front court with regular starters Pacanan at PG and Denaque at SF. Emolaga was inspired by his first start at PF that he made 9-11 shoots ending with 20 points 5 rebounds and 2 assists while fouling out early in the 4th quarter. But it was Tenosa who showed he can man the center spot as he top scored with 27 points while pulling down 13 rebounds.
Game was close 23 all in the first quarter, 46 to 51 in the second with Latvia leading, then Pilipinas lead by 1 in the end of thrid with a score of 74 to 73. In the last 1 minute and a half to go Latvia led by 1 point but Denaque calmly sank 4 straight free throws after 2 consecutive fouls by Latvia to give Team Pilipinas the lead for good and winning by a score of 98 to 94 in an upset of epic proportions.
The Latvian coach couldn't believe what happened and kept on saying after a friendly handshake with Lolo Smithz after the game "I can't believe we lost. There was no way we could lose."
Lolo Smithz was seen grinning from ear to ear like a child who just opened his presents on Christmas day as he joyfully answered questions thrown at him. When ask why that weird starting lineup Lolo Smithz answered. "I wanted to run Run ang Gun but again game shape problems prevented me from running plays I wanted."
"The odds were stacked against the Pilipinas squad that every odds maker said Pilipinas would lose for sure so I fielded Tenosa and Emolaga instead to see what they were capable of and to my surprise they played very well. Denaque played badly really throwing up ill advice long range shots the whole game long but he salvaged a win for us with those 4 free throw attempts in the end. Cool as ice."
"But the main reason really why we won was overconfidence by the opposing side. They kept on changing their lineup as if they were toying with us. I was thinking if we could just keep it close we would have a chance for an upset and in the end our prayers were answered. They also gave up 39 foul shots to us (from 28 personal fouls) which we made 25 of them missing 14. Free throw shooting is really one of our weakness. They threw up more shots 42 to 84 as compared to 36 to 68 for us and they made more assists 27 to 16 but we made more rebounds 42 to 36."
"Overall it was mostly second stringers who played this game and most of our best starters were as usual having bad game shapes again (some are really hopeless). You can just imagine what we could accomplished with the best lineup we can field. This game is truly one of the best ever I have coached. When you win a game you are expected to lose the feeling is so amazing."
"Let's see who the "Misfits" will upset in the second round. Never underestimate a cornered animal."