FIBA Asia Championship JV: Let’s rally behind our team

MANILA, Philippines - The last time the Philippines hosted the FIBA Asia Championship, then known as the ABC Championship, the Filipinos wound up as champions.

That was in 1973, when the entire nation rallied behind the team led by Robert Jaworski, Bogs Adornado, Ramon Fernandez and the late Tembong Melencio.

Even the MICAA, the PBA of then, took a break from its very busy schedule to allow the players more time to prepare as a team. The Philippines went undefeated in 10 matches.

The Philippines trounced Korea in the finals, 90-78, at the packed Rizal Memorial Coliseum. That was the last time the county hosted the event.

This August, 40 years later, the Philippines will once again play host to the prestigious event, and this early, sports and government officials are calling on the nation to rally behind the team.

“This is a great opportunity for all of us to be united for a particular goal and that is to motivate our national team to qualify for the world championship,” said San Juan Congressman JV Ejercito Estrada.

The dynamic member of the House Committee on Youth and Sports said the support of basketball-loving Filipinos will play a key role in this effort.

“If our players see that their countrymen are behind them 100 percent, I’m confident that they will be able to achieve their goal,” said the strong senatorial bet in the coming May elections.

Ejercito Estrada, now 43, was still a toddler when the Philippines won the prestigious title for the fourth time following victories in 1960, also in Manila, 1963 in Taipei, and 1967 in Seoul. Another team led by Allan Caidic, Samboy Lim, Hector Calma, Jeff Moore, Dennis Still and coached by Ron Jacobs won the crown in 1985 in Kuala Lumpur.

This year’s team, to be coached by Chot Reyes, will be made up of PBA superstars Jayson Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Larry Fonacier, Ranidel De Ocampo, Ryan Reyes, Jared Dillinger, and Kelly Williams of three-time Philippine Cup champion Talk ‘N Text; Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine; Gary David and Japeth Aguilar of GlobalPort; Marc Pingris of San Mig Coffee; Sonny Thoss of Alaska; LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel; rookie June Mar Fajardo of Petron and 7-foot NLEX center Greg Slaughter.

They represent the best of the best of Philippine basketball today.

As hosts, Ejercito Estrada believes that the Filipinos should pounce on the opportunity. At stake in this event are three slots to the 2014 World Championship in Spain.

Hosting the event also gives the Philippines the chance to be remembered as champions in Asia.

“The country’s hosting of the FIBA Asia Championship will surely put us back on the international basketball map. It will also give our athletes more exposure to international competitions,” Ejercito Estrada said.

To show his own support, Ejercito Estrada also offered the San Juan Arena as the second venue for the FIBA Asia tournament set Aug. 1-11. Chosen as main venue is the Mall of Asia Arena.

If chosen, Ejercito Estrada said the city of San Juan, of which he was mayor from 2001 until 2010, will also put its best foot forward.

“The local government of San Juan can prepare should the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas choose The Arena as a venue for the FIBA-Asia Championship games,” said Ejercito Estrada, who was born Dec. 26, 1969 and named Joseph Victor, after his father, former President Joseph Ejercito Estrada, just won his first term as mayor of San Juan.