Alapag sa FIBA Players’ Commission

MANILA, Philippines - Hinirang ni FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann ang retiradong Talk ‘N Text guard na si Jimmy Alapag sa Players’ Commission na pinamunuan ni dating NBA center Vlade Divac ng Serbia.

“It is a pleasure for me to inform you…that Mr. Alapag has been appointed as member of the FIBA Players’ Commission….We already look forward to closely working and collaborating with him for the sake of our sport and its athletes,” ani Baumann sa liham niya kina Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan at SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.

Ang paghirang kay Alapag sa nasabing komisyon ay ginawa ilang buwan matapos iluklok si Pangilinan sa FIBA Central Board.

Nakatakdang dumating si Baumann sa bansa bukas para sa occular inspection ng FIBA Evaluation Commission sa mga venues na maaaring gamitin sa 2019 FIBA World Cup.

Ang kopya ng sulat ay ibinigay kay Divac, ang Players’ Commission chairman at kina FIBA Asia president Sheikh Saud Bin Ali Al-Thani, FIBA Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian at National Fe-derations and Sports Director Zoran Radovic.

Binuo ang Players’ Commission noong Agosto sa Seville, Madrid bago ang FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Si Divac, ang presidente ng Serbian Olympic Committee ay awtomatikong miyembro ng FIBA Central Board bunga ng kanyang pagkakahirang sa Players’ Commission.

Maliban kina Pangilinan at Alapag, ang tatlo pang Filipino na magsisilbi sa isang five-year term sa world governing body para sa amateur basketball ay sina orthopedic surgeon Dr. Raul Canlas (FIBA Medical Commission) at SBP consultant Atty. Edgar Francisco (FIBA Legal Commission).

Inihalal si Pangilinan sa 26-man Central Board, pinamamahalaan ni Argentinian Horatio Muratore, matapos ang three-hour meeting noong Setyembre sa Madrid sa kasagsagan ng World Cup kung saan nagpasikat si Alapag laban sa Greece, Croatia, Argentina, Puerto Rico at Senegal.

“I’m very honored with the opportunity to represent our country in the FIBA Players’ Commission,” ani Alapag, ang 2011 PBA most valuable player. “Looking forward to the experience.”