Hosting ng FIBA-Asia Championships ibinigay sa Pinas

MANILA, Philippines - Ikinatuwa ng lubos ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan ang pagbibigay sa Pilipinas ng hosting ng FIBA-Asia Championships.

 â€œThe SBP is pleased to accept this rare privilege of hosting the FIBA Asia Championship. Much hard work lies ahead in organi-zing this event but we will do our best to make it successful. It is time to unite Philippine basketball to achieve our goal of entering the World Championship in Spain in 2014,” pahayag ni Pangilinan sa isang statement sa media na kanyang nilabas noong Huwebes ng gabi.

Pagkatapos ng mahabang 40 taon, magiging host na rin ng FIBA-Asia Men’s Basketball Championships sa wakas ang Pilipinas.

Inilipat ng FIBA-Asia Executive Committee ang event na nakatakda ngayong darating na August 1-11 sa Manila, mula sa orihinal na host na Lebanon kung saan may mga nangyayaring kaguluhan at maging sa mga kalapit bansa nito sa West Asia.

“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,” paha-yag ni FIBA Asia Secretary General Hagop Khajirian sa isang istorya sa official website FIBA Asia.

“In view of these facts, FIBA Asia Executive Committee decided to change the venue of the 27th FIBA Asia Championship from Beirut-Lebanon to Manila-Philippines.”

Hindi naman nag-atubiling tinanggap ito ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas sa pamumuno ng chairman nitong si Manny V. Pangilinan.

Ang Top 3 finishers ng darating na FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship ay automatic na makakasali sa nasabing world basketball cham-pionships sa Spain sa susunod na taon.

Sa nakaraang FIBA Asia Championships noong 2011 sa Wuhan, China na naging qualifying tournament para sa nakaraang Olympics sa London, nagtapos na pang-apat lamang ang Smart Gilas National team ng bansa sa likod ng China, Iran at Jordan.

“We thank FIBA Asia, in particular secretary general Khajirian, for giving us this privilege, which will give great happiness and enjoyment to the millions of Filipino basketball fans,” wika naman ni SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.

“Ready tayo d’yan anytime. Alam natin si Boss MVP (Pangilinan) basta’t tungkol sa basketball at sa bayan, laging handa ‘yan parang boy scout,” dagdag nito.

Huling nag-host ang bansa ng FIBA Asia Men’s tournament noong taong 1973 nang ito’y kilala pa bilang Asian Basketball Conference or ABC Championships. Iyon na rin ang huling  pagkakataong naging kampeon ang Pilipinas sa nasabing torneo.