PBA, SBP tap backers for RP five campaign

The PBA and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas ( SBP)  yesterday agreed to work hand in hand in generating corporate support for the RP team’s forthcoming campaign in the 2009 FIBA Asia Championship in China.

Smart/PLDT top official Ricky Vargas will be the man at the helm of the project aimed at tapping sponsors that will bankroll the national team’s bid for a berth in the 2010 World Championship in Turkey.

Using the Tokushima FIBA-Asia campaign as basis, PBA officials think around P25 million would be needed to fund the China mission.

San Miguel Corp. reportedly spent around P40 million in financing coach Chot Reyes’ program for Tokushima with several training trips abroad.

“We cranked up some numbers based on the Tokushima campaign. But it’s just all assumption since the would-be national coach would be the one mapping out his program,” said PBA commissioner Sonny Barrios.

Barrios, who has the sole authority to name the RP team coach, said he’ll do this after the ongoing PBA playoffs although the board has made known that its top  choice is Red Bull’s Yeng Guiao.

Earlier, the PBA board just agreed to provide the players to the RP team but left to the SBP the task of looking for sponsors. SBP executive director Noli Eala made a plea, saying the PBA is in a better position to source out the funds.

The PBA and the SBP agreed to work together in a meeting among Vargas, Barrios and current PBA board chairman Tony Chua yesterday morning at the Edsa Shangri-La Plaza.

“The meeting was very positive. We understand the reality that the SBP doesn’t have much platform for the funding issue. We decided to work together with Mr. Vargas taking the lead in trying to see how to put up sponsorship support,” said Barrios.