Smart backs Nationals ‘Road to Glory’ quest

MANILA, Philippines - Wireless leader Smart Communications (Smart) has thrown its full-backing to Gilas Pilipinas, the official national basketball team of the Philippines, as it embarks on a journey to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament next month in Manila.

“Filipinos love basketball, mahirap talikuran ‘yun ( It’s hard to turn your back on it),” said PLDT and Smart chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Through Pangilinan’s leadership, PLDT and Smart have been providing steadfast support to national teams, not only in basketball but also in boxing, badminton, taekwondo and volleyball.

Gilas is seeking to top the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament to earn a berth in the Rio 2016 Olympics in August. The team, which beat Iran in a recent tune-up, 81-70, is now in Europe to pitch a nine-day training camp.

The Filipinos’ love for the game is uncontested, winning for the country the Most Valuable Fans (MVF) award during the FIBA World Cup in 2014.

According to Ariel Fermin, Smart EVP and consumer business head, “Our deep love for the game is mirrored in every effort we exert for Gilas as they continue to pursue not only their own goal, but also the goal of millions of Filipinos behind them.”

PLDT and Smart are the presenting partners of the upcoming FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament on July 5-10 at the MOA Arena.

With Smart’s “nationwidest” coverage, fans can show their solid support to Gilas Pilipinas by catching the games on their mobile devices or watching them live on TV5, the official Philippine broadcast partner of the tournament.