Kaya nakansela ang ‘Last Home Stand’ series promoter ‘di sumunod sa requirements

MANILA, Philippines - Sinisi ng National Basketball Association (NBA) ang promoter na East-West Private LLC dahil sa pag­ka­­kansela ng exhibition series ng NBA Selection sa Gi­las Pilipinas sa Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Sa isang statement ng opisina ni Commissioner Adam Silver, inihayag ng NBA na nabigo ang East-West Pri­vate LLC na sundin ang kinakailangang re­quirement para payagan ang mga NBA players na ma­ka­laro ang Gilas Pilipinas sa ‘Last Home Stand’ sa Big Dome noong Martes at kahapon.

“Under the terms of the NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, players are allowed to participate in offseason basketball games or exhibitions when re­quirements for those events are met, including ensu­ring that appropriate safeguards be in place, and the pro­moter seeks the proper exemptions from the NBA and the player’s team,” pahayag ng NBA.

“The promoter of this proposed event, East-West Pri­vate LLC, was informed of this process several months ago but did not take the required steps.”

Ang nasabing grupo rin ang nagdala kina Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant at Derrick Rose noong 2011 sa All-Star Weekend.

Ngunit ito ay hindi na kinailangan ng permit dahil mayroong NBA lockout.

Noong Martes ng gabi ay nadismaya ang mga fans nang magsagawa lamang ng workout ang NBA pla­yers na kinabibilangan nina James Harden, Kawhi Leo­­­nard, Tyson Chandler, Damian Lillard, DaMar De­­­Rozan, Kyle Lowry, Matt Barnes, Ed Davis at Terrence Ross kasama ang Na­­tionals.

Inamin ng mga opisyal ng title sponsor na PLDT at ng East-West Private LLC na nakatanggap sila ng tawag mula sa NBA officials ilang oras bago ang laro.

Sinabi ng NBA na papatawan nila ng suspensyon ang mga NBA players na maglalaro sa nasabing exhibition series dahil ito ay hindi ‘sanctioned event’.

Ayon kay PLDT chairman at Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan, tiniyak sa kanila ng East-West Private LLC na plantsado na ang lahat.

Kaya naman humingi si Pangilinan ng paumanhin sa mga fans na bumili ng tiket.

“We wish to apologize to our Filipino basketball fans for the sudden and disappointing turn of events to­­day. We ourselves are extremely disappointed by this unexpected development. All we wanted was to give our Filipino basketball fans a real treat while at the same time, through this benefit event, help our coun­try­men who are still recovering from Supertyphoon Yo­­landa and more recently Typhoon Glenda,” sabi ng sports patron at business tycoon.

Nangako si Pangilinan na ire-refund ang biniling tiket ng mga fans.

“Just issued our apologies and offer to refund. Very disappointed ourselves. But we’re accountable for the event and to our basketball fans,” ani Pangilinan.

Ang mga maaaring tawagan para sa refund ay ang mga hotline numbers na 836-5818/8365819 at 836-5890.