"Nanlalamig na nanginginig ako," Marc Pingris said as he recalled his experience after that Gilas Pilipinas game against Iran. They lost, but the Philippines still felt like a winner after the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship held at MOA Arena.
The 2013 FIBA Asia Championship was a pivotal moment for the Gilas Pilipinas program. It was the time when a silver medal was just as sweet as gold.
In front of a sold-out Mall of Asia Arena crowd on August 10, 2013, the Philippines broke the curse of South Korea and booked a ticket to the FIBA World Cup in over three decades.
[ALSO READ: Gilas: Marc Pingris reveals why he was locked in vs Korea during 2013 FIBA Asia Championship]
There was barely any time to celebrate. On the next day, Gilas Pilipinas had to take on powerhouse Iran for the gold medal.
The Hamed Haddadi-led Team Melli secured the title, 85-71, as Gilas Pilipinas was outscored in three quarters.
Marc Pingris, the scrappy forward who was pivotal in the game against South Korea and registered a double-double, only played for 20 minutes vs Itan with four points, eight rebounds, and two steals.
“Coach, hindi ko na kaya, nanlalamig na ako," Pingris recalled, as he spoke to fellow Gilas Pilipinas veteran Ranidel de Ocampo in Pilipinas Live's Puso-to-Puso.
"Kinabukasan, uwi tayo, pero diretso tayo ospital. Dumaretso ako sa ospital, tusok dito, tusok diyan," he added.
"Ako din!" de Ocampo chimed in.
"Nanlalamig ka? Ako nanlalamig na nanginginig," Pingris shared.
"Walang maipaliwanag yung doktor. Ngayon, iniisip ko na lang na naexceed 'yung limit ng kakayahan ng katawan natin nung naglaro tayo na dapat hanggang dito lang tayo," De Ocampo explained, motioning with his hand.
He scored nine points in the finals, with six rebounds, one assist, and three steals.
"Parang nag-Super Saiyan tayo," Pingris described, referencing the super-powered mode in the anime and manga Dragon Ball as he recalled the team's effort throughout the competition.
Pinoy Sakuragi added how he spent three days in the hospital after the tournament.
"Hindi ako makakain, nanginginig lang ako. Sobrang pagod na pagod talaga ako. Sobrang pagod tapos nagsusuka ako kapag may kakainin ako," he added.
"'Yun talaga kapag binigay mo lahat, eh. Itinodo mo, binuhos mo lahat ng lakas mo kasi malalaki yung kalaban natin,” De Ocampo noted.
It was not meant to be for the Philippines at that time, but they kickstarted Gilas' return to the biggest basketball stage of them all.
More than ten years after that tournament, the Philippines was able to participate in the FIBA World Cup three times--one held right at home.
Watch the full game here: