MVP offered seat in FIBA central board

SEVILLE, Spain – The Philippines got an extra achievement on the sidelines of the 2014 FIBA World Cup with Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan offered to sit in the FIBA Central Board.

“I’ve been invited to the Central Board of FIBA and I’m inclined to accept,” said Pangilinan during the farewell dinner of the Philippine contingent here.

It’s a big achievement considering no Filipino had sat on the FIBA Central Board for a long, long time.

The body has just had its latest assembly meeting here where it elected its new set of officers.

Argentina’s Horacio Muratore was voted new FIBA president, taking over from France’s Yvan Mainini.

Before the latest assembly, the FIBA Central Board was composed of 23 members, meeting twice yearly.

Once he formalizes his entry in the board, Pangilinan will enjoy voting rights in FIBA.

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Members of Gilas Pilipinas will be dividing significant amount of cash incentives for their worthy showing in the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

In dinner at the end of Gilas’ “WC” journey, SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan announced a bonus that would be available any time for each member of the team.

“Those going home tomorrow just let us know how you want to receive, in pesos, euro or us dollars,” said Pangilinan to the cheers from the members of the team.

A Filipino-Chinese group led by businessmen/sportsmen Cecilio Pedro and Deoceldo Sy, and the PBA board both announced a cash windfall of P1 million to be divided by the team.

Asked later by the sportswriters privately how much he’s giving the players as bonus, Pangilinan smiled and said: “It’s more than what the other gives. They fully deserve it.”   

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Upon his return to the country from the world meet, Paul Lee plans to go straight to the Rain or Shine practice and talk to coach Yeng Guiao to sort out his problem.

“He’s waiting for me. We’ll talk. As coach Yeng has said, any problem can be resolved in a good, serious talk,” said Lee, obviously reconsidering an earlier plan to leave Rain or Shine.

“I just can’t leave coach Yeng. He’s so good to me, he’s like a father to me. We’ll  talk to find a solution if there’s any problem,” Lee added.

He denied talking to anybody or his agent approached by anybody for a possible deal with a different team.

“I was just exploring my options. I’m not ruling out staying at Rain or Shine which to be fair is so good to me and to all the team members. We’re like a family,” the 2002 Rookie of the Year awardee said.

Insidersa said Lee and Rain or Shine could agree on a P15.1-million, three-year deal.