SBP to send Fiba formal bid

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said yesterday it is now ready to send to the FIBA general headquarters in Geneva both the hard and soft copies of its formal bid to host one of the three Olympic world qualifiers next year.

“Our candidature file and formal bid are now ready for print out although the deadline to formalize our bid is still on Wednesday,” SBP executive director Sonny Barrios told The STAR.

“We are seven hours ahead of Geneva. The deadline is 5 p.m. Wednesday Geneva time. So we have practically the whole day of Nov. 11 to process everything,” Barrios also said.

Barrios said the federation is determined to bring over to the country one of the three qualifiers to hopefully give Gilas Pilipinas a fighting chance to make it to the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next year.

Coach Tab Baldwin and his new pool were to assemble for the first time at the Meralco Gym last night.

SBP top officials, led by president Manny V. Pangilinan, were to show up to provide morale boost to the pool composed of Junmar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, Ian Sangalang, Marc Pingris, Ranidel de Ocampo, Troy Rosario, Marcio Lassiter, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, Matt Ganuelas-Rosser, Jeff Chan, Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, LA Tenorio, Ryan Reyes, and Terrence Romeo.

Last month, the Philippines, through the SBP, was among the countries that submitted a letter of intent to bid. Apparently, the others were Mexico, Italy, Turkley, Russia, Germany, Serbia and Iran.

“We don’t know who will push through with their bids. Remember in the bidding for the 2019 World Cup hosting, so many expressed intention to bid. In the end, we fought it out only with China,” said Barrios.

As in the World Cup bidding, Barrios said the SBP will present as country’s major points the Filipinos’ burning passion for the game and our organizational skill.

“We’re known all over the world for our great passion about basketball. As for our organizational skill, we have a proven track record with our hosting of the 2013 FIBA Asia and two FIBA world tour 3x3 events,” said Barrios.

“We’re hosting only six teams in six days in the Olympic world qualifier compared to 16 teams in 11 days in the FIBA Asia. So it’s very easy for us to do that,” Barrios also said.

But Barrios refused to divulge the amount of money involved in SBP’s bid for the event where the minimum hosting fee is pegged at Euro$1.75 million.

“We have to keep it to ourselves para naman hindi malaman ng kalaban. One has to offer a hosting fee plus the cost to organize the tourney,” said Barrios.

The International Basketball Association (FIBA) awards the hosting rights to three winning bidders during the FIBA board meeting in Geneva on Nov. 23-24.

Earning berths to the wildcard competition are France, Serbia, Greece, Italy and Czech Republic from Europe, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico from America, Angola, Tunisia and Senegal from Africa, New Zealand from Oceania and the Philippines, Iran and Japan from Asia.

The three qualifiers will be held simultaneously on July 5-11. The top teams from the three tournaments earn a place in the Rio Olympics.