I found the best way to give your cat a pill is this way. Have one person sit down so they are kneeling and have them cross there ankles (so if you looked down, their legs would form a 'V'.

Put the cat between the legs, and if the cat backs up, they will be cornered because of the crossed ankles. If the person is holding the cat is scared it will bite him/her wear leather gloves.

Put your finger along the side of the cats mouth near their molars and push your finger in through the side (that will automatically open the cat's mouth). Then stick the pill in or use the pill gun.

I haven't read every post, but what happened with getting the pill gun? That's way easier than trying to force feed Basil the wet food.

So sorry you are having so much difficulty. It's not a fun process by any means!