Olympics qualifier bid isusumite na ng SBP: Seryoso na’to

MANILA, Philippines - Natapos na ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) ang lahat ng kailangang paperworks  at handa nang ipadala sa FIBA general headquarters sa Geneva ang hard at soft copy ng kanilang formal bid para mag-host ng isa sa tatlong Olympic world qualifiers sa susunod na taon.

“Our candidature file and formal bid are now ready for print out although the deadline to formalize our bid is still on Wednesday,” sabi ni SBP executive director Sonny Barrios. “We are seven hours ahead of Geneva. The deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday Geneva time. So we have practically the whole day of Nov. 11 to process everything.”

Sinabi ni Barrios  na determinado ang SBP na magdaos dito sa bansa ng  Olympic qualifying tournament upang magkaroon ng tsansa ang Gilas Pilipinas na makasama sa Rio Olympics sa susunod na taon.

Nakatakdang magkita-kita sina Coach Tab Baldwin at ang bagong buong Gilas team sa Meralco Gym kagabi.

Inaasahan ding magpapakita ang mga SBP top officials sa pangunguna ni president Manny V. Pangilinan para magbigay ng morale support sa team na binubuo nina   June Mar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Ian Sangalang, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Marcio Lassiter, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Jeff Chan, Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, LA Tenorio, Ryan Reyes at Terrence Romeo.

Noong nakaraang buwan, nagsumite ang SBP ng letter of intent para mag-bid. Ang iba pang nagpaabot ng interes na mag-host ng Qualifiers ay ang Mexico, Italy, Turkey, Russia, Germany, Serbia at Iran.

“We don’t know who will push through with their bids. Remember in the bidding for the 2019 World Cup hosting, so many expressed intention to bid. In the end, we fought it out only with China,” sabi ni Barrios.  “We’re known all over the world for our great passion about basketball. As for our organizational skill, we have a proven track record with our hosting of the 2013 FIBA Asia and two FIBA world tour 3x3 events.”

Tumanggi si Barrios  na sabihin kung magkano ang magagastos sa pagho-host bagama’t may nauna nang binayarang Euro$1.75 million bilang minimum hosting fee.

Ihahayag ng International Basketball Association (FIBA) ang tatlong winning bidders para sa Olympic Qualifiers na sabay-sabay gaganapin sa July 5-11 sa FIBA board meeting na gagawin sa Geneva sa Nov. 23-24.