Pinoy Basketball Fans Were Heard: Gilas Will Compete in Asiad
The voices of Filipino basketball fans were heard. The Philippines will now compete in the men’s basketball tournament in the Asian Games after initially withdrawing.
In a press conference, Philippine Olympic Committee president Ricky Vargas along with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio, PBA commissioner Willie Marcial, and some PBA governors announced the decision to compete in 18th Asiad, which will be held from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2 in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Patrick Gregorio, POC secretary general, was also there to announce that both the Olympic Council of Asia and the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee had accepted the Philippines’ reentry.
Team Phl’s head coach Yeng Guiao and assistant coach Caloy Garcia will determine the Final 12 before August 14 from a 14-man pool composed of Maverick Ahanmisi, Raymond Almazan, Chris Tiu, Gabe Norwood, James Yap, Beau Belga, Don Trollano, Christian Standhardinger, Asi Taulava, Stanley Pringle, Paul Lee, Poy Erram, and Gilas cadets Kobe Paras and Ricci Rivero.
They have already commenced nine days of training at the Meralco Gym. Their first match versus Iran is scheduled on August 16.
The return to the Asiad was made possible thanks to the SBP and PBA coming together, under the leadership and cooperation of SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, NLEX chief Rod Franco, PBA team owners Ramon Ang, Raymond Yu, Terry Que, Mikee Romero and Dioceldo Sy, and government officials Bong Go, Allan Peter Cayetano, and Sonny Angara.
Of course, the Filipino basketball community’s plea for re-entry was also a major factor.
“We realized there’s a strong clamor from the basketball fans. And since we’re the house of basketball, we really need to take a look at the clamor and where it is coming from. Nakita namin galing ito sa puso ng ating basketball fans,” Vargas said.
“With this, the team owners, upon the initiative of (SMC sports director) Alfrancis Chua, started to begin putting together the players that we have now,” he added.
Special Assistant to the President (SAP), who is an avid basketball fan, also expressed his desire for Gilas’ re-entry.
“Bong Go appealed to the PBA and the SBP to see if we can reconsider,” said Vargas.
Although time isn’t on their side, officials believed they were able to put together a competitive team.
“Time is really short even before when we planned this. With what happened in the last two weeks, lalong umigsi. That’s one reason why we got the core of the Rain or Shine team because they’re familiar with me, and I’m familiar with them,” said Head Coach Yeng Guiao.
Aside from Taulava, Lee, and Pringle, the rest of the players were in the initial roster submitted to the Asiad organizing committee. But POC officials said that the organizers are very helpful and cooperative to the SBP, so they’re optimistic that the three would be cleared eventually.
Finally, Vargas is hopeful that Guiao and the rest of the team will be able to surpass the seventh place finish in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.
via Philippine Star / Nelson Beltran
