Duterte wants to grace FIBA Olympic qualifier

MANILA, Philippines – President-elect Rodrigo Duterte will try to grace the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila on July 5-10 “pending his schedule,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Renauld “Sonny” Barrios.

“When we visited him President Duterte in Davao last May 19,” related Barrios. “He sent his support for the SBP and the national team’s efforts. He’s a basketball fan too and he wants to attend. “But as we all know, he is just assuming public office. He will have been on the job for less than a week so there is a lot of work. Best effort, he said.”

The SBP extended a formal invitation to the incoming Chief Executive with Barrios personally handing over the invitation of SBP President Manuel V. Pangilinan.

“President Duterte is a basketball fan like many of us. He’s also excited because this will be his first front row seat to the national team and a game of this magnitude.”

The FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament tips off this July 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena with the Philippines taking on tournament favorite France at 9pm in Group B play. The Filipinos return to action the next day against New Zealand before earning a bye.

The top two teams of each group battle in a crossover semifinals on July 9. The finals will be played on July 10. The winner of the Manila leg will advance to the Rio Olympics this August.

The other two qualifying tournaments will be simultaneously played in Belgrade, Serbia, and Turin, Italy.