That aptly describes the situation of the accidental tourists known as the Philippine men’s team to the Southeast Asia Basketball Championships in Malaysia. Since FIBA suspended the Philippines from participation in international competition "with immediate effect and until further notice," the team has been scrambling to find a way to get back home.
"We are still trying to bring the team back, since their booking was really for the duration of the tournament," Basketball Association of the
Philippines executive vice-president Christian Tan told the The STAR. The team hoped to be back tomorrow.
The Philippine Olympic Committee General Assembly voted to expel the BAP with near-unanimity on June 30, and promptly wrote FIBA to notify them of the development. Although FIBA still recognizes the BAP as its national federation for the country, as a result, the world governing body for the sport decided to suspend the Philippines from participation in any of their sanctioned tournaments until the matter is resolved.
"They’re asking us to pay for our hotel and food expenses here, since we aren’t carrying the Philippine flag," head coach Boycie Zamar siad in a text message. "We were ready to play for flag and country, but now, we’re even having trouble getting home."
Since the team is a large group, and their airfare was sponsored, the BAP has found it difficult to re-book their tickets and fit them all on an earlier Philippine Airlines flight back home. Also, on certain days, PAL has a co-sharing agreement with Malaysia Airlines, further limiting the choices of flights back to the country.
The team arrived in Kuala Lumpur Sunday night, only to be told that they could not play in the tournament. The SEABA formally opened Tuesday without the Philippines, which was scheduled to play host Malaysia in its opening assignment.