Barrios binisita ang Gilas at makikipagpulong sa NBA

MANILA, Philippines - Sinabi kahapon ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios na nasa maigting na pag-eensayo ang Gilas Pilipinas at naniniwala siyang magiging kondisyon ang koponan bago sumabak sa FIBA World Cup sa Agosto 30 sa Spain.

Dumating si Barrios sa Miami noong Miyerkules at magtutungo sa  New York City ngayon para makipag-usap sa mga NBA executives.

Pinaplantsa pa ang pakikipagpulong ni Barrios kay NBA vice president and assistant general counsel Michelle Leftwich.

Ayon kay Barrios, ang kanyang misyon ay ang lalo pang palakasin ang relasyon ng SBP sa NBA.

“When I served in the PBA, we enjoyed a special relationship with the NBA,” sabi ni Barrios sa isang overseas telephone interview.  “When Rudy Salud, Jun Bernardino and I served as Commissioner, we kept in close contact with Commissioner David Stern and his executives.  Now that Adam Silver is the Commissioner, we hope to strengthen our relationship with the NBA.  Commissioner Silver was in Manila several years ago and is aware of how basketball-crazy we Filipinos are. We’re looking forward to a positive, friendly and productive meeting with the NBA.  We are in touch with Attorney Leftwich.  We hope to get a chance to meet with Commissioner Silver, too.”

Ang retiradong si UN senior economist na si Leonides Buencamino, isang Filipino na naninirahan sa New Jersey, ang nag-aayos ng kanyang appointment sa mga NBA executives.

Si Buencamino ang dating liaison consultant ng PBA sa NBA noong panahon nina dating PBA Commissioner Rudy Salud, Bernardino at Barrios.

“We also want to impress on the NBA that we in the SBP will abide by whatever rules and regulations the NBA has when it comes to dealing with players.  We want to be aware of the nuances of working with the NBA.  We respect the NBA highly and in line with the SBP’s objective of playing a more prominent role in basketball in Asia, we realize the importance of relating closely with the world’s No. 1 basketball league,” ani Barrios.