SBP bubuo ng solidong Gilas sa Olympic qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines — Bubuo ang Sama­hang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) ng solidong koponan para sa FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament na idaraos sa Hunyo 29 hanggang Hulyo 4 sa Belgrade, Serbia.

Nakikipag-uganayan na ang SBP sa pamunuan ng Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) upang paghandaan ang Olympic qualifiers.

Nais ng asosasyon na humugot ng malalakas na players dahil mabigat ang labang haharapin ng Gilas Pilipinas sa Serbia.

Umaasa rin ang SBP na mas mapabilis pa ang naturalization ni Ivorian A­ngelo Kouame upang agad itong makasama sa lineup ng Gilas sa qualifiers.

“We will be coordina­ting with the PBA to plot our plans moving forward and we’re hopeful that Ange Kouame’s naturalization will be signed into law by then to give Gilas Pilipinas Men that added boost it needs to be more competitive,” ani SBP president Al Panlilio.

Nagdiwang ang buong bansa nang ibigay ng FIBA sa Pilipinas ang puwesto sa Olympic qualifying matapos mag-withdraw ang New Zealand.

“This is truly a welcome development and we’re very happy that Gilas Pilipinas Men will be given a chance to compete for a spot in the Olympics,” ani Panlilio.

Nagdesisyong magpullout ang New Zealand dahil sa coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Masaya ang SBP partikular na si Chairman Eme­ritus Manny V. Pa­ngilinan na unang nakaalam ng balita sa pamamagitan ni FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis.

“Our Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan had a conversation with Andreas Zagklis, Secretary-General of FIBA, who informed him of the development and MVP was very pleased with the news,” ani Panlilio.