GMA-7 to air Gilas Middle East series

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has linked up with giant TV network GMA-7 for the series of games of the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team in the Middle East. 

Smart Gilas is slated to leave for Doha, Qatar tomorrow for a 17-day tour of the Gulf as part of its buildup for the Asian Games in China in November.

Handled by Serbian Coach Rajko Toroman, the Smart Gilas team will play two games against the Qatar national squad on Jan. 8 and 9 before competing in the tough 21st Dubai International Tournament slated Jan. 14-23.

Prior to the tournament, Smart Gilas will play exhibition games for the Filipino communities in Dubai as well against a club teams from Jordan and the UAE.

Toroman and his players, led by team captain Chris Tiu and UAAP MVP Dylan Ababou, along with SBP officials Rico Meneses and Perry Martinez, paid a courtesy call on GMA Network, Inc. chairman, president and CEO Felipe Gozon and EVP and COO Gilberto Duavit prior to the team’s departure.

Under the partnership, GMA will cover Gilas’ Middle East activities and air a special on GMA’s PinoyTV. GMA has also agreed to provide subsidy for the Mideast trip of the team and is studying the possibility of even acquiring the tapes of the Dubai tournament for telecast.

“We fully support the national team, financially, morally and spiritually because we need to have athletes who will represent the country and win. And basketball is the national sport,” said Gozon, who welcomed the team vying for a berth in the Olympics in 2012.