MVP tiwala sa kakayahan ng Gilas

MANILA, Philippines – Inaasahang magiging mahirap ang daan patungo sa Rio Olympics dahil sa mga powerhouse teams na makakatapat ng Gilas Pilipinas katulad ng France, Canada at New Zealand.

Ngunit malaki ang tiwala ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan sa kakayahan ng Gilas Pilipinas.

“Of course (the expectation is), no less than the opportunity to participate in Rio. I’d like to see Filipino players, Filipino athletes belong to the Olympic movement again, not only in basketball but in other sports,” wika ni Pangilinan.

Umaasa si Pangilinan na makakabuo ang Gilas ng pinakamalakas na koponan para mapaghandaan ang FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament sa July 5-10 sa MOA Arena.

“We got the most of the tough teams in our group and coach Tab (Baldwin) will have his hands full,” sabi pa ni Pangilinan.

Sisimulan ng Phl 5 ang kanilang kampanya sa Group B ng qualifiers laban sa world No. 5 France sa July 5 kasunod ang 21st-ranked New Zealand sa July 6 para sa hangaring makaabante sa semis at posibleng makatapat ang Group A teams Canada o Turkey.

Ang tanging koponang magkakampeon ang makakakuha ng tiket sa Rio.

Nang tanungin kung ano ang kanyang opinyon sa pagsagupa ng Gilas sa France at New Zealand, sinabi ni Pangilinan na: “Worried. It’s fine to get worried but the best antidote to that is to prepare well. I think that’s what coach Tab (Baldwin) has been saying as well. Let’s choose the best players available for the July event, prepare well and prepare hard for that.”

Hinikayat din niya ang mga Pinoy fans na maging “Sixth Man” ng Gilas.

“We need Filipino fans to come out there fully and support the team. I think it will a big boost to the team’s effort,” ani Pangilinan.

Nakatakdang magretiro si Pangilinan bilang SBP president sa May ngunit patuloy na susuportahan ang sport.

“I told the board it’s time for change and we need a younger, more energetic president. But we will be behind SBP,  to continue to support,” wika ni Pangilinan matapos tanggapin ang “Sportsmen Who Make it Happen” award mula sa Spin.ph.