Vargas rues ‘empty’ PBA promises

MANILA, Philippines - The PBA Board of Governors could make all the promises of support to the Philippine national basketball team but they would come out empty if some teams would not go all-out in backing the Nationals.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas vice chairman Ricky Vargas, a former PBA board chair, expressed this sentiment after Gilas Pilipinas went a heartbeat away from winning the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in Changsha, China.

“In reality, they don’t have the power in this matter. It’s the team owners who decide,” Vargas told The STAR.

“How many times have they said they’re throwing full support to the national team? Then they revised the PBA calendar, opening a two-month period for training of the national team. That is all there is to it. It’s nothing,” Vargas pointed out.

“Lending players has two parts. One is to lend the right players. Two, lending the players that want to and we want to,” Vargas added.

To the MVP Group top executive, what the PBA officials are saying “are all sound bites.”

“When push comes to shove, they can’t deliver,” said Vargas, stressing it’s the team owners’ commitment that really matters.

During dinner after the gold-medal game in Changsha, Vargas, in his speech, said: “Thank you Alaska Milk, Barako Bull, GlobalPort, Meralco, NLEX, Rain or Shine, Talk n Text and Marc Pingris.”

Pingris was one of the five players from the San Miguel Group who earlier were reported not keen on joining gilas for various reasons, citing injuries and other personal concers. Pingris joined the team later.

Vargas later rued the fact that Gilas came so close to winning and narrowly missed bringing home the gold medal from the Asian meet.

“One can’t help but feel bad because we saw we could be No. 1 in Asia. That’s the best time to beat China. We’re two or three players short of going all the way to win the crown,” Vargas said.

“While I admire the commitment of members of Gilas III, I really feel the team could’ve been better,” Vargas also said.

“I really believe we can win it. But as what Gen. Luna said ‘sarili natin ang kalaban natin ( we are our worst enemy)” ,’” he added.

Then he wondered what if players like Junmar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter and Paul Lee were there.

“We should’ve had Twin Towers. And if we had gunners like Paul Lee and Marcio Lassiter, Andray Blatche could’ve played inside,” said Vargas.

He insisted, though, he’s not taking away the sacrifice and effort put in by each member of Gilas III.

“It turned out to be a special team with their camaraderie, dedication and heart for the country,” said Vargas. “They’re all committed to the cause. They played their best and their achievement is admirable.”

 Vargas lauded the Nationals for what they showed with the circumstances they went through in the gold-medal game against the host team.

“We’re almost there. It could’ve better bringing home the gold medal and going to the Olympics,” Vargas said.