FIBA-Asia to push through as scheduled, says Barrios

MANILA, Philippines - The 2013 FIBA-Asia championship the country is hosting will push through as originally scheduled.

 Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director and event CEO Sonny Barrios assured yesterday that the Aug. 1-11 tournament which serves as qualifier for the 2014 World Basketball Championship will not be moved to another date as earlier reported.

Barrios said the launching of the championship logo has been scheduled for tomorrow at the Mall of  Asia Arena during a doubleheader in the ongoing PBA Commissioneer’s Cup.   

“There really was a request from Muslim countries to move the date of the tournament due to the observation of the traditional Ramadan, which coincides with the date of the championship,” Barrios said during the forum, sponsored by AKTV and FILA.

“We in the SBP, along with the Mall of Asia Arena management, tried to accommodate the request and made a thorough study of the situation, but, as MoA (main hub of the championship) explained, everything has been in place and that a change of date would upset the schedule of events, including highlights outside of the playing court,”  the former PBA commissioner said.

“Games have already been scheduled, including which teams  will play at the alternate venue, which is the Ninoy Aquino Stadium,” said Barrios. “The side events before, during and after the tournament have already been set and if we change the schedule, we’ll have to change everything already in place.”

Barrios said countries requesting for the change of date understood the problem and agreed to  the original schedule.

The drawing of lots for grouping  and the actual scheduling of games will be held June 6. It will be presided over by the FIBA-Asia secretary general  Hagop Khajirian, also at MoA, in the presence of  representatives of the 16 competing teams. Ambassadors of member countries not sending representatives will be invited.

“The Philippines is the 13th team in the field, but as host, it is given the privilege of choosing which group it wants to play,” Barrios said. “That is one of the very few privileges a host country will enjoy.”.

 Barrios said the core group of the local organizing committee (LOC) has been meeting twice a week to draw up plans to make the championship a success as when the country last staged the event 40 years ago.