It’s official: Phl to host FIBA-Asia championship

MANILA, Philippines - The Asian Basketball Championship will be held in the Philippines in August, a development that augurs well for the country’s bid to return to the world championship in Spain next year.

The current situation in Lebanon, the original country host, the civil war in Syria and the peace and order situation in the rest of West Asia prompted the FIBA Asia Executive Committee Thursday to move the 27th FIBA Asia Championship from Beirut to Manila.

The event, which serves as a qualifier for the World Cup in Madrid, will be held Aug. 1-11 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

“Unfortunately, the current situation in the region and the ongoing civil war in Syria, which has its indirect effect on the countries in the whole of West Asia, especially on Lebanon, creates doubts about the stability that we might not have, at least, till the fixed dates of our event,” said FIBA Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian in his official communiqué to FIBA Asia members.

“In view of these facts, the FIBA Asia Executive Committee decided to change the venue from Beirut-Lebanon to Manila-Philippines,” Khajirian further said.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas welcomed the decision to host the event, where the top three teams will qualify for the world championship set in Spain.

“SBP is pleased to accept this rare privilege of hosting the FIBA Asia Championship – a similar event we last hosted 40 years ago. Much hard work lies ahead in organizing this event, but we will do our best to make it successful,” said SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan.

He also urged the rest of the basketball stakeholders to support the SBP in ensuring the successful staging of the event.

“It’s time to unite Philippine basketball to achieve our goal of entering the World Championship in Spain in 2014,” Pangilinan added.

It will mark the first time in 40 years that the country will host the FIBA Asia qualifier since the Philippine team, led by the iconic duo of Robert Jaworksi and Ramon Fernandez and handled by coach Tito Eduque, scored a decisive victory over South Korea before a roaring crowd at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum in 1973.

Posing a big problem for Team Philippines’ bid is the conflict of the FIBA Asia Championship schedule with that of the PBA third conference.

SBP has informed the PBA board of the problem but the two parties have yet to sit down and figure out how to resolve the issue.

The PBA had earlier agreed to lend players to the national team for as long as it doesn’t adversely affect the PBA season. And that’s the main reason why only Meralco’s JayR Reyes and Ronjay Buenafe, and Air21’s KG Canaleta were able to join Smart Gilas Pilipinas in its Dubai trip.

“It’s official: Manila hosts 2013 FIBA Asia Championship! All d hard work thru Xmas & New Year paid off. Now d really difficult work begins,” said national coach Chot Reyes on his Twitter account from Dubai.

Reyes obviously has yet to figure out how he can get the players he really wants for the team.

An option reportedly being looked at, if the problem is not ironed out, is just putting together the core of the Talk n Text and Meralco teams which are both owned by the MVP Group.

The Philippines narrowly missed the top three the last time out in Wuhan, China, placing fourth behind China, Jordan and Korea.

It was the country’s best finish in the biennial event since the Joe Lipa-mentored Philippine team led by Benjie Paras, Alvin Patrimonio and Ronnie Magsanoc also placed third runner-up in 1987 in Bangkok, Thailand.

With five championships, the Philippines is the second winningest team in the tournament behind China (15 crowns), but has not won one since Ron Jacobs steered Samboy Lim, Allan Caidic, Hector Calma, Dennis Still, Jeff Moore and their group to victory in 1985 in Kuala Lumpur.

Before that, the country last won the Asian meet when it was held in Manila in 1973.

The Tito Eduque-coached team composed of Robert Jaworski, Ramon Fernandez, Manny Panner, Abet Guidaben, Bogs Adornado, Tembong Melencio, Yoyong Martirez, Jimmy Mariano, Francis Arnaiz, Joy Cleofas, Dave Regullano and Big Boy Reynoso won the championship – then still called Asian Basketball Confederation championship – via a 10-game sweep.

The Philippines topped the inaugural tournament held in Manila in 1960, then repeated in 1963 in Taipei and in 1967 in Seoul.