NAS chosen 2nd venue for cagefest

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas picked the Ninoy Aquino Stadium as the alternate venue of the 27th FIBA-Asia Championship slated Aug. 1-11 at the MOA Arena in Pasay City.

“Yes, I’m finalizing it today (yesterday) with the Philippine Sports Commission,” SBP deputy executive director Bernie Atienza told The STAR yesterday. 

“The Ninoy Aquino Stadium is a logical choice…No. 1, it’s with the PSC, which is one of our hosting partners, and No. 2, its proximity to the main hub, which is the MOA Arena,” he added.

Atienza said the SBP and the PSC, through chairman Richie Garcia, are looking at some refurbishing of the air-conditioned NAS inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

“The SBP hopes to hold some games in the group stagings at the Ninoy but majority of the games will still be held in MOA,” said Atienza.

The SBP is also looking at the newly renovated Arellano U gym on Taft Ave. near Vito Cruz, Manila, and facilities of Emilio Aguinaldo, Lyceum and Letran as possible training sites for teams participating in the meet.

A total of 16 teams, including Smart Gilas Pilipinas II, will slug it out for three slots to the 2014 FIBA World Championship in Spain.

The Phl earned the right to host the venue after the original host country, Lebanon, backed out early this year due to peace and order situation in West Asia.