Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas mulling own court for international tourneys

MANILA, Philippines - After helping construct a training center for boxers, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan is considering building a new basketball coliseum the association could use to host international competitions in the future.

“We need a new basketball stadium because the Rizal Memorial Coliseum is already old,” said Pangilinan in Friday’s surprise visit with Philippine Sports Commission chair Harry Angping.

“The Rizal Coliseum is not good for the players anymore, they say it’s slippery,” he added.

Pangilinan, however, said he has yet to decide on whether they shoud consider constructing the facility inside the 75-year-old Rizal Memorial Sports Complex or elsewhere.

“There’s no definite plan yet, whether it’s here in Rizal or in another place,” he said.

The Smart and PLDT chair has been seriously looking for a permanent venue for SBP since it has plans of hosting international events, possibly including Olympic qualifiers.

Pangilinan, who also chairs the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines, helped conceptualize a two-storey boxing facility that will serve as athletes’ quarters at the ground floor and a boxing gym on the second floor.

The facility, located between the pencak silat gym and swimming pool and is bankrolled by the government sports funding agency, is expected to be completed by May 15.

“Construction is being done nearly 24 hours and we expect it to be finished before May ends,” said ABAP executive director Ed Picson, who was with Pangilinan, ABAP president Ricky Vargas and secretary-general Patrick Gregorio in the visit.

Pangilinan and Angping have also hatched plans of turning the Rizal Complex into an Olympic standard training center.