FIBA-ASIA TOURNEY TO PROCEED AS SCHEDULED
By Eddie Alinea
PhilBoxing.com
Fri, 12 Apr 2013
MANILA (PNA) -- The 2013 FIBA-Asia championship the country is hosting will push through as originally scheduled. Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director and event CEO Sonny Barrios assured yesterday that the August 1-11 tournament which serves as the qualifier for the 2014 World Basketball Championship will not be moved to another date as earlier reported.
?Yes, the FIBA-Asia world qualifying tournament will proceed as scheduled,? Barrios declared in yesterday?a SCOOP session at the Kamayan Restaurant-Padre Faura, adding that, indeed, there was a request from several member countries to postpone the series to a later date.
Barrios, who came to the session with former ABC secretary general and deputy CEO of the Moying Martelino, lawyer Aga Francisco of the SBP and deputy executive director Bernie Atienza, announced, in fact, that the launching of the championship logo has been scheduled for tomorrow at the MALL OF Asia Arena during a double header in the on-going PBA Commissioner?s Cup.
?There really was request from Muslim countries to move the date of the tournament due to the observation of the traditional Ramadan, which coincides with the date of the championship,? Barrios said during the forum, sponsored by AKTV and FILA.
?We in the SBP, along with the Mall of Asia Arena management tried to accommodate the request and made a thorough study of the situation, but, as MoA (main hub of the championship) explained, everything has been set in place and and that to change the date would mean disturbing the already prepared schedule of events, including highlights outside of the playing court,? the former PBA commissioner reasoned out.
?Games have already been scheduled, including which teams will play at the alternate venue, which is the Ninoy Aquino Stadium. ?Yung mga side events before, during and after the tournament have already been set at kapag pinalitan natin ang date ng tournament, papalitan nating lahat ang mga bagay na na nakaayos na.?
?The formal lunch of the event logo will be held during a brief press briefing at the MoA press room during the half time break of the first game,? Barrios announced. ?The unveiling of the logo will be during the halftime break of the second game featuring the Barangay Ginebra-Talk ?N Text tussle.?
The drawing of lots for grouping and the actual scheduling of games will be held on June 6 to be presided over by the FIBA-Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian, also at MoA to be attended by representative each of the 16 competing teams. Ambassadors of member countries not sending representatives will be invited.
?The Philippines is the 13th team in the field, but as host, it is given the privilege of choosing which group it wants to play,? Barrios disclosed. ?That is one of the very few privileges a host country will enjoy. Kaya nga nagpapa-bid for the hosting eh, to enjoy some privilege.
Barrios said the core group of the local organizing committee (LOC) have been meeting twice a week to draw up plans how to make the championship a success.Among the working committees formed for the purpose are, besides the LOC, headed by SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan and his deputy Ricky Vargas, the secretariat, headed by Atienza, Al Panlilio of finance, Francisco of operations, logistics of Amboy Castro, Willie Marcial and Virgil Villavicencio of media and Epok Quimpo and Patricia Hizon of marketing.
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