FIBA Asia Championship: now the hard work begins
Basketball-crazy Philippines has eventually earned the right to host the FIBA Asia Championship, which was initially denied our country and given to Lebanon, home of FIBA Asia secretary general Hagop Khajirian, during a FIBA Asia Executive Committee meeting in Japan last September.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, terribly disappointed at not winning the rights despite what was generally acknowledged as an impressive presentation made by a high-powered delegation headed by SBP president and esteemed sports patron, business tycoon Manny Pangilinan supported by youthful Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner Atty. Chito Salud, never gave up and pursued a dream.
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Salud expressed his disappointment over the initial FIBA decision. He said then, “I thought the SBP made a clear and thorough presentation. Aside from our country’s excellent playing venues, hotels and transport facilities to be dedicated to the event, emphasis was placed on the tremendous fan base basketball enjoys in Manila, a factor that should have given us the edge. It is a pity that the FIBA Asia Executive Board did not see it that way. It would have been a great opportunity for FIBA to see for itself how ardent and knowledgeable Filipino basketball fans are.”
SBP executive director and former PBA Commissioner Renauld “Sonny” Barrios disclosed that there was a clause written into the grant to Lebanon which stated that for whatever reason if Lebanon could not deliver, the Philippines would be given the chance.
Not long after the grant of hosting rights, trouble broke out in the Middle East, with violence in the heart of Beirut that caused death and destruction and a rapid escalation of the conflict in Syria which has threatened to engulf the region.
We were informed last Monday that the Philippines would likely be asked to host the Championships after Lebanon was reportedly stripped of the rights with the decision being announced on Lebanon radio. At the same time, the FIBA Asia website indicated blanks next to the venue and the date of the tournament.
We received word from S. Mageshwaran. Head of Communications for FIBA Asia on Thursday, confirming our earlier story.
Mageshwaran said the FIBA Asia Executive Committee announced its decision to move the staging of the FIBA Asia Championships from Beirut in Lebanon to Manila, Philippines in view of the current uncertain situation in Lebanon.
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Secretary General Khajirian said “Unfortunately the current situation in the region and the on-going civil war in Syria which has its indirect effect on the countries in the whole of West Asia, especially on Lebanon, creates doubts about the stability that we might not have, at least till the fixed dates of our event” and announced that “in view of these facts FIBA Asia executive committee decided to change the venue of the 27th FIBA Asia Championships from Beirut, Lebanon to Manila, Philippines.”
As late as Wednesday evening, when his Talk N’ Text team was carving out a hard-earned victory over Rain or Shine in Game 1 of the PBA Philippine Cup, Pangilinan kept hoping for word from Hagop.
When word came Thursday, Pangilinan welcomed the decision and told Yahoo! Philippines “this is good for our country and people. We all have to work hard and together to ensure a successful staging of the tournament.”
At the same time the ardent basketball patron said, “we will need to get the cooperation of all the PBA teams” in an effort to qualify for the 2014 World Championships, now called The World Cup, which will be held in Spain with the top three teams in Manila qualifying.
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Khajirian himself said “the SBP was still interested in hosting the championship and welcomed the decision of moving it to Manila.”
The first and only time the Philippines played host to the FIBA World Basketball Championships was in 1978 during the term of FIBA president Gonzalo “Lito” Puyat II whose internment will be on Friday, which in itself provides a somewhat emotional dimension to the country’s successful bid, late though it may be, to host the qualifying tournament for the World Championships now known as the FIBA World Cup.
Reyes told Yahoo! Philippines from Dubai where he leads the makeshift Smart Gilas team to a tough invitational tournament that his “initial reaction was one of elation but I am also cautious because now all the more we have to field our best team yet” as he noted that the tournament will clash with the PBA Conference.
SBP executive director Barrios reacted positively. He said “we are honored to host the prestigious event. We thank FIBA Asia, in particular Secretary General Hagop Khajirian for giving us this privilege which will give great happiness and enjoyment to millions of Filipino basketball fans.”
Clearly now, the real hard work begins.
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.
