PBA, SBP tie up on World Cup dream

LAS VEGAS – With the 2019 FIBA World Cup around the bend, the Philippine Basketball Association and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas have firmed up their partnership to ensure the national team reaches the global stage.

With three FIBAWC windows to go, Team Pilipinas is in the mix in the regional eliminator for seven WC slots for Asian teams.

For one, the PBA is stepping further backwards, opening more time for the national team for its preparations and actual participation in the remaining FIBAWC windows.

The Nationals leave the country late tonight for Tehran to play Team Iran Thursday. They immediately fly back to Manila for their game against Team Qatar on Sept. 17 at the Big Dome.

On top of that, the PBA has approved the participation of the Meralco Bolts team in the 2018 FIBA Champions Cup slated late this month in Bangkok. The Bolts vie for the crown against the SK Knights of Korea, the Al Riyadi team of Lebanon, Petrochimi of Iran, Pauian of Chinese Taipei, the Mono Vampire of Thailand.

No less than FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann requested for a PBA team to represent the Philippines in the Champions Cup.

“The PBA is very supportive of the SBP, and it’s a big, big plus for our national team,” said PBA chairman Ricky Vargas, who is presiding over the ongoing PBA planning session at The Venetian Hotel here.

The PBA is now leaving no stones unturned in an effort to support the national cause. Giving their nod on this are PBA governors Dickie Bachmann of Alaska Milk, Rod Franco of NLEX, Alfrancis Chua of Barangay Ginebra, Robert Non of San Miguel Beer, Rene Pardo of Magnolia, Erick Arejola of NorthPort, Bobby Rosales of Columbian Dyip, Silliman Sy of Blackwater, Raymond Zorrilla of Phoenix Fuel and Mert Mondragon of Rain or Shine.

There are no more restrictions for all the players the national coach would want to have in the national team. And the PBA is freeing up more time to accommodate Team Phl’s FIBAWC campaign.

“We talked about the FIBA calendar for the next windows plus the World Cup in late August plus the SEA Games in November. We presented the schedule to the PBA, and they’re going to fine-tune their own calendar,” said SBP president Al Panlilio, who also sits on the PBA board as representative of the Meralco Bolts. 

“If we make the World Cup, commissioner Willie Marcial would work to give us four to five weeks of preparation. They’re extending their commitment,” Panlilio also said.

“The third conference next season may stretch to January 2020 as the league is again readjusting its schedule for the remaining windows of the FIBAWC qualifiers, and to the FIBAWC proper should we make it there. That’s the commitment the PBA is throwing to the SBP and the national team,” said Marcial.