2014 FIBA Naismith Trophy on tour

MANILA, Philippines - The Naismith Trophy, which is the penultimate award for the champion of the FIBA World Cup for Basketball, will be on display at the SM Megamall Atrium on July 4 and 5 and at the SM Mall of Asia on July 6, as part of the Trophy Tour to promote the upcoming 2014 FIBA World Cup to be held in Spain from Aug. 30 to Sept. 15.

Working exclusively with host broadcasters Basketball TV and Solar Sports, a division of Solar Entertainment Corp., the Trophy Tour will also include activities such as the basketball shoot-out, photobooth and product display courtesy of FIBA global partners Peak and Molten. The activities will bring the fans face-to-face with members of Gilas Pilipinas, the country’s team competing for glory in the World Cup.

In their quest, Gilas Pilipinas has chosen coach Chot Reyes to lead the team. Reyes is himself a veteran of numerous FIBA international games, including the 2013 Asia Championship, where the Philippines took second place. He will be working closely with a line-up largely unchanged from the 2013 national team, however, with a few key additions in the likes of Fil-American Jared Dillinger and Brooklyn Nets center Andrey Blatche, who was recently granted Philippine citizenship to be able to play for the national team.

The 2014 FIBA games will be aired live on cable TV by Basketball TV and Solar Sports, followed by delayed telecasts aired by ABS-CBN 2 and Sports + Action.