Philippines Hosts FIBA-Asia Tourney
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Jan 2013
MANILA (PNA) -- The window of opportunity for the country to regain the respect of the international basketball community is believed to have been opened when FIBA Asia decided to transfer its 27th championship to Manila from Beirut, Lebanon.
40 years after the country last hosted the event in 1973 and 35 years following the staging here of the World Championship in 1978, basketball-crazy Filipinos will once again experience the glitter and glory of seeing high-caliber plays of several of the world?s finest players from 16 of the regional governing body?s 45 or so member countries.
And thanks to the efforts exerted by Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, chair Ricky Vargas and executive director Sonny Barrios, the tournament will give the Philippines another chance to showcase our world-renowned hospitality and friendship through sports.
Pangilinan, MVP to business and sports communities and company, using clockwork monitoring, top level boardroom negotiations and tireless backdoor channeling, succeeded the FIBA executive board to take a closer and more serious look at the bid submitted by the BSP last September in Tokyo where it initially set aside giving the right to Beirut.
The volatile situation prevailing in that Middle East country was the reason given for FIBA Asia?s turnaround. The 27th staging here, which actually was inaugurated in Manila in 1960, is Asia?s qualifying tournament for the 2014 World Championships in Madrid.
?We haven?t held an international tournament of this scale and importance since 1973 ? 40 years ago and even then, the 1973 event would be smaller in comparison. It is important then that the basketball community unite to make this tournament a success for the country and the sport,? Pangilinan, who owns the Talk ?N Text basketball club in the PBA said during the press conference held at halftime of the TnT-Rain Or Shine Game 2 of their titular showdown for the pro-league?s Philippine Cup.
Pangilinan vowed that he, the SBP and his business group, including PLDT, Smart Communications and Meralco, to mention a few, will be making no stone unturned to really make the event a more memorable one.
To make representatives of the competing nations the best of everything, MVP said delegation officials will be billeted at the posh Sofitel Hotel, while members of the participating teams will be staying at nearby Diamond Hotel.
PBA commissioner Chito Salud vowed the pro-league?s all-put support to the national undertaking vowing even to suspend games in the conference going in the duration of the FIBA Asia championship from August 1-11.
Rain Or Shine owners Raymond Yu and terry Que, who also attended the presscon, promised to lend any number of players from the Elasto Painters? lineup that national coach Chot Reyes chooses to form the PH squad.
Air-conditioned buses, MVP said, will be provided to all teams to shuttle them to practice venues and game sites as well as Metro Manila?s tourists districts should they want to while away time when not playing.
The newly-built Mall of Asia Arena will be the games? main hub with the Ninoy Aquino and, possibly, Cuneta Astrodome as secondary playing fields. Barrios, for his part, said the process of bringing the former Asian Basketball Confederation championship here was not easy as meetings with FIBA Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian to present the Philippines? cause were held even on the eve of Christmas and New Year Celebation.
"This is a hosting of the Philippines - not just SBP. SBP President Manny Pangilinan want us to put our best foot forward and make the Filipino proud by organizing an event of the highest international standards," vowed SBP Vice Chairman and Local Organizing Committee Chair Ricky Vargas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Eddie Alinea.
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