Italy trip up for national team

It’s 90 percent sure that the Philippine national basketball team will play in a pair of exhibition games and in an international tournament in Italy on June 2-8.

Carlos (Bobong) Velez, who was asked to organize the trip by Filipino-Milan Basketball Association head Mel Nazares, told The STAR yesterday he is close to firming the deal. Velez said RFM Corp. president Joey Concepcion has committed to foot the airfare of the Philippine squad.

National coach Joseph Uichico has agreed in principle to fly the team to Italy but will still look into the level of competition to determine if the trip is worth it. If the tour pushes through, it will be the only opportunity for the team to gain international exposure before playing at the 14th Asian Games in Busan on Sept. 28-Oct. 14.

Velez said Nazares is lining up the North Italian amateur champion team to play the Philippines in a Milan exhibition on June 2. Although the North Italian squad isn’t professional, it is considered formidable.

The tournament will be held in Milan on June 3, 4, and 5 involving the national teams of Italy, Latvia, Ukraine, and the Philippines. Velez said he is in contact with Italian national team coordinator Claudio Silvestri and manager Dino Meneghin on the arrangements of the Philippines’ participation.

Velez said Nazares is also planning to pit the Philippines against the US Armed Forces selection in an exhibition game in Rome on June 8.

The Italian national squad had wanted to play the Philippines here before or after its exhibition series in China but could not be accommodated because of a conflict in the schedule of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Samsung Governors Cup. When the visit couldn’t be arranged, Nazares broached the possibility of the Philippine team playing in Italy instead to Velez.

TV coverage of the Philippines’ games is up in the air, said Velez, because of constraints from the Italian end. But he said once the trip is confirmed, he will try to negotiate for TV rights.