PBA chair wants all-out support for Gilas

SYDNEY – Ramon Segismundo, the new PBA board chairman, is pushing for the league’s continued support to the national team beyond the coming PBA season, hoping to see Team Philippines finish in the Top 16 in the world championship next year and make a return stint in the Olympics in Rio, Brazil in 2016.

On the heels of the league’s continuing success, Segismundo, a Meralco senior vice president in charge of human resources, wants the league to do its part in bringing the Philippines back to old place of prominence in global basketball.

Segismundo discussed his goal for the season with a theme “One Philippines, One Nation” after assuming the board chairmanship relinquished by Barangay Ginebra’s Robert Non Monday night here.

“Before Gilas Pilipinas enters the hard court in Spain, the home front serves as the venue for PBA teams to fight for titles in the 2013-14 season. It’s the goal of the incoming board to rally the nation behind the PBA as we celebrate 2014 as the breakout year of Philippine basketball,” he said.

“Beyond contending teams and competitive games, PBA focuses its sights beyond this season, onwards to an incredible run as dominant basketball force ,” he added.

He hopes Gilas Pilipinas to make the grade in the group plays and land at least in the first round of the knockout stage in the world joust in Spain late next year.

He also bats for the league’s support of, most probably, the same team in the succeeding Asian Games in Inchon, Korea.

“We have witnessed the historical feats of Gilas in its successful ‘Puso’ campaign at the FIBA Asia Championship. We have experienced how the PBA galvanized the country. The return to the world stage of the Philippine men’s national team goes beyond the game. It is for our country, for our people,” he pointed out.

He also mentioned the feat of the Philippine under-16 team that also qualified for the world junior championship in Dubai next year.

“It has been an inspiring triumph for the senior and junior Gilas Pilipinas as much as it is for SBP, for the PBA and for our country,” he said.

Meanwhile, PBA commissioner Chito Salud said they had a fruitful planning session with the board remaining firm in a commitment to continue developing its product – the PBA play.

“It’s the product that satisfies our customers – the fans. If you have a good product, you have a good marketing trust,” Salud said.

Towards this goal, the new chairman outlined his agenda including league expansion.  

“It’s geared towards further raising the popularity of basketball. We will prove that a PBA team is a great investment,” Segismundo said.