MANILA, Philippines - If given the green light, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will field a team that will defend the basketball title in the Myanmar SEA Games in December.
Even if it means they have to spend their own money for the trip.
“If you’re asking me if we want to join – my answer is yes,†said SBP executive director Sonny Barrios yesterday.
The former Philippine Basketball Association commissioner is confident that the Philippines can defend the title even without sending the best players.
On standby is the SBP’s cadet team that has proven its worth against regional rivals Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.
“They’ll be fine. I know we can compete at their level and we have a good chance of winning the gold medal,†said the SBP official.
By the time the SEA Games are held, most players from the PBA are with their mother clubs.
Basketball is so close to the hearts of the Filipinos that when it comes to the SEA Games, there’s a saying that the country can lose the gold in any other event but basketball.
Barrios hinted that the SBP can fund its own team after Philippine Sports Commission Richie Garcia the other day said the government agency will only fund individual athletes to Myanmar.
Garcia said the PSC has decided to fund and send only token delegation of around 50 athletes as a sign of its protest over the way Myanmar is running the show.
To make sure it finishes up in the standings, Myanmar has included around 60 gold medals from traditional and indigenous sports hardly played by other countries.
The hosts also scratched certain events where their athletes don’t have a solid chance. The Philippines was most affected because 16 of the 36 events it won in 2011 in Indonesia will not be played this year.
Garcia said the PSC will not fund team sports like basketball, dragon boat and football to Myanmar but said if they can provide their own funding then they can go.
Barrios said the SBP is waiting for an official communication from the PSC or the Philippine Olympic Committee under Jose Cojuangco.
Barrios said they want to hear it straight from the sports officials if they can go on their own.
“We can’t really say yet if we’re going or not. We need to wait for the notification from the POC and the PSC before making our next move. So far, wala pa,†said Barrios.