POC supports SBP World Cup bid

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Olympic Committee yesterday declared its support to the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as it bids to host the Fiba World Cup in 2019, the same year the country is staging the Southeast Asian Games.

“We’re all-out in supporting the bid of the Philippines to host the Fiba World in 2019,” POC president Peping Cojuangco said after the POC general assembly.

The POC membership adopted a resolution stating it’s “not only in agreement but also in favor” of the SBP’s quest to bring the Worlds to Manila. The POC’s formal support was given nine days before the SBP headed by PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan is to make its final pitch before the Fiba Central Board in Tokyo.

PSC chairman Richie Garcia, meanwhile, reiterated the government sports arm’s position favoring the bid.

“We’ve already expressed our support to SBP’s bid when we met with a Fiba delegation led by (Patrick) Baumann a few months ago when they came over to inspect the venues,” said Garcia.

“We’re endorsing it, though we’re not committing funding at this point. We can provide support technically, in terms of venue and manpower. Later on, if we win the bid, we can discuss the support further,” he added.

The PSC chief once more allayed fears of a “conflict” should the country get the Fiba World hosting in the same year it is organizing the SEAG.

“I don’t even know why they’re worried about hosting the two. We can even host three (events),” said Garcia.

The SBP is banking on what it calls “heart-ware” to sway the Fiba execs to their side in the bid against China.

Pangilinan had said the Filipinos’ “pure and undeniable love for basketball” would be the country’s edge against the Chinese, whom he described as a “formidable opponent.”