BEIJING, China (The Adobo Chronicles, Beijing Bureau) -Host China is still in shock after a humiliating loss to Gilas Pilipinas at the 2023 Asian Games.

The Filipino underdogs miraculously clawed their way back from a massive deficit to defeat the Chinese team 77-76. Credit goes to Gilas coach Tim Cone masterfully shuffling players as needed in the last 1 1/2 minutes of the game, with China leading by 7 points.

Now, China is crying “Lutong Macau,” a popular Filipino idiom which means something was rigged. (It is believed that the idiom’s beginnings were in reference to Chinese restaurant cooking where ingredients are prepared or cooked in advance.)

But the Chinese crying foul seems out of place since they are using an expression that makes fun of no other than themselves. Shouldn’t they have used a generic or Chinese idiom in their sour-graping?

(Melchor Vegara contributed to this report)