'Let's go to Spain' - MVP

Let’s go to Spain.

That was how Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan summed up the Gilas Pilipinas national team’s battlecry heading into this August’s FIBA-Asia Men’s Basketball Championships here in Manila.

Pangilinan personally attended the first official practice of the 17-strong national team training pool Monday night at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City.

RELATED: Gilas holds 'encouraging' first practice

Accompanied by pro league commissioner Chito Salud, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios and former FIBA-Asia secretary-general Moying Martelino, Pangilinan aggressively lobbied the country’s hosting bid to FIBA-Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian last September in Tokyo during the FIBA-Asia Cup.

However, the hosting rights were initially given to Lebanon until the FIBA-Asia officials formally handed the hosting privilege to the Philippines in early January, citing the unrest that continues to haunt the Middle Eastern country.

This mark the first time since 1973 the country is hosting the continental joust and MVP, with the help of top basketball stakeholders, is bent on pulling out all the stops.
 
National team coach Chot Reyes (@coachot) shared the encouraging message from MVP.

 
Reyes also imparted “inspiring words” the players received from Salud and Barrios.
 

 
Even Talk ‘N Text playmaker Jimmy Alapag (@JAlapag3), one of seven Tropng Texters in the fold, gamely shared a photo.
 

 
With the country bidding for a podium finish to earn a trip to Spain next year, naturalized import Marcus Douthit (@DouthitMarcus), meanwhile, believes Gilas Pilipinas 2.0 can make it all the way.
 

 
Also present in the scrimmage were Alapag’s TNT teammates Jayson Castro, Kelly Williams, Ranidel De Ocampo Ryan Reyes, Jared Dillinger, and Larry Fonacier.

They were joined by SanMig Coffee’s Marc Pingris, Petron Blaze June Mar Fajardo, Brgy. Ginebra San Miguel’s LA Tenorio, Gary David and Japeth Aguilar of GlobalPort, Rain or Shine’s Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan of Rain or Shine, Sonny Thoss of Alaska, and cadet player Greg Slaughter.

RELATED: Gilas needs lots of weapons vs. Asian foes - Reyes
 
Meanwhile, Pangilinan expressed his appreciation to Salud and his co-team owners’ immense help for the preparations of the national team.
Here's the complete statement of MVP:
 
Dear Commissioner Salud:
 
It is indeed an honor for the Philippines to host the FIBA Asia Championship this August, hopefully providing the setting for our country to capture another regional basketball crown–40 years after we did, in the Asian Basketball Confederation Championship in 1973.  It is time for this.

SBP acknowledges that the successful hosting will not be possible without the participation of the PBA, which has lent players to the National Team and adjusted its playing schedule to allow more preparation time.  Accordingly, our sincerest thanks go to the team owners - Ramon Ang of Petron, San Mig Coffee and Ginebra; Wilfred Uytengsu of Alaska; Mikee Romero of Globalport; Bert Lina of Air21; George Chua of Barako Bulls, and Terry Que and Raymond Yu of Rain or Shine.

We also thank the PBA Board of Governors and the Commissioner for their support.

On our part, the SBP commits all available resources to attain the success of FIBA Asia Championship, and the victory of Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

It is heartening to say that the basketball community has answered not only the call of the sport but, more importantly, the call of the country.
                                                                                  
M. V. P.

SBP

THE 17-MAN GILAS POOL: