SBP loses bid as Fiba-Asia tourney host

MANILA, Philippines - The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas lost its bid to host the 2011 FIBA-Asia Championship as FIBA-Asia awarded the right to Lebanon recently.

“We made an appeal, an offer. The decision, however, is final,” said SBP executive director Noli Eala, who represented the country in the FIBA-Asia congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia over the weekend.

Eala said the three-man committee, composed of FIBA-Asia president Sheikh Saud, secretary-general Dato Yeoh and deputy secretary-general Hagop Kajirian, approved the granting of the right to host the biennial event to the Lebanese Basketball Association.

“Even Korea and China complained that there was no notice of the process used as basis of the award,” said Eala, who earlier officially submitted the country’s bid to host the 2011 meet along with Korea and China.

It was a big blow to Smart Gilas Pilipinas’ bid in the event, which serves as a qualifier for the 2012 London Olympics.

Lebanon, which is expected to contend for the crown not only in the 2011 FIBA-Asia tilt but also in the 16th Guangzhou Asian Games this November, will also host the Stankovic Cup this August.

FIBA-Asia, however, offered RP to serve as host of the 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup, topped this year by Iran in Doha.

“I will take it up with the SBP board,’’ said Eala.

The SBP will have its congress on June 24 at the Edsa Shangri-la Hotel in Mandaluyong City.

Sheikh Saud was given a fresh four-year mandate during the Fiba Asia congress after receiving 26 out of the 44 possible votes to beat the chairman of the Hong Kong Basketball Association.