SBP asks fans to show Filipino hospitality amidst Phl-Taiwan row

MANILA, Philippines – Local hoops fans are anticipating the game schedule for the FIBA-Asia Championship that will be announced tomorrow (Monday) with the game against Chinese Taipei expected to be sold out immediately.

As early as Thursday’s draw of the groupings, local fans all over the social media have expressed so much interest in that game when Gilas Pilipinas picked Group A which will also have Saudi Arabia and Jordan.  

The game against Chinese Taipei will be an emotional one for the home fans, who felt slighted when Gilas Pilipinas was deprived of the chance to defend its Jones Cup title as an off-shoot of the maritime row between the two countries stemming from the killing of a Taiwanese fisherman by the Philippine Coast Guard.

The Jones Cup organizers withdrew the invitation due to fear for the safety of the team and its fans.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios has downplayed that game as just one of the roadblocks for the national team in its quest to get one of the three tickets to the FIBA World Basketball Championship. 

Barrios is asking the fans to cool down and show the visitors the Filipino hospitality we are known for.

“Let’s just stick to basketball. Let’s not join the politics.” Barrios told Philstar.com.

Barrios, who previously held the PBA Commissioner’s post before joining SBP, also added that they will accord Chinese Taipei the standard security measure to guarantee their safety.  

“Ibibigay natin sa kanila yung security na ibibigay rin natin sa mga ibang teams,” Barrios said. “Let’s throw support to our national team but let’s stay calm. Tayo ang host, ipakita natin ang pagiging hospitable natin. ‘Wag nating ipahiya ang bansa natin.”

In terms of preparation, the local cage federation is confident the country will do a good job in hosting the qualifiers for the FIBA World Basketball Championship.

“Nasa 80 percent na tayo in terms of preparation sa pagho-host. As for the team, I leave that to our coaching staff led by our coach Chot Reyes,” Barrios added. “Masaya naman ang FIBA-Asia with the way we hosted the draw and I’m confident we’ll do better sa August.”

The FIBA Asia executives were impressed with the staging of the draw.  It was the first time in the history of the FIBA Asia that the draw day was transformed into a live TV show complete with commentaries.  The whole draw was shown live on BTV, Solar Entertainment’s basketball channel on Cable, which has the rights to broadcast this year’s FIBA-Asia Basketball Championship.

BTV will have TV5 as its free TV partner in what promises to be a world-class presentation of the FIBA-Asia tournament.  

The FIBA Asia championship will be held in the country from Aug. 1 to 11 with the top three teams getting a ticket to the FIBA World Basketball Championship in Spain next year.