MANILA, Philippines -- Basketball legend Ramon Fernandez said the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas had nothing to be ashamed of despite losing to world power China in the final bid for the 2019 Fiba World Cup in Friday in Tokyo, Japan.
The Cebu-based Fernandez felt being one of two countries left standing to challenge China for the right to host the world championships was a great feat in itself.
"At least, umabot tayo hanggang sa dulo. And for me, just to be up there till the 11th hour is already a great achievement," Fernandez told Philstar.com, shortly after the Fiba Central Board declared China the new host of the World Cup in 2019.
Fernandez said China's vast experience in hosting major sports events, along with its ability to come up with giant infrastructures may have convinced Fiba to award the hosting rights to the Chinese in the end.
"In my opinion, I would say the infrastructure was a major factor (in Fiba's decision). I can't think of any other factors," he said.
"Kasi kung sa atin four (venues), sa China mga walo."
The Filipino cage great cited that during the first all-professional team's participation in the 1990 Asian Games in Beijing, the Chinese showed their might by building a massive athlete's village and a huge commercial area.
The 61-year-old Fernandez was actually part of the first-ever PBA-backed national side which lost to China, 90-76 in the gold medal round.
The Chinese didn't stop there, he added, pointing out to their successful hosting of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, showcasing their claim to being the new world power.
"Malayo na talaga sila (Chinese) kasi naalala ko, nung 1990, they already built a new athlete's village and a big commercial area during the Asian Games. And we know nakapag-host na din sila ng Olympics. So that for me is a major factor bakit sila nanalo." he added.
But Fernandez remains hopeful that this painful loss to China will make the SBP wiser
and stronger should it try to bid again to host the World Cup in the future.
"Hopefully, sa susunud (na mag-bid ang SBP), atin na iyan," said Fernandez, a member of the national side that played in the 1974 world championships in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Fernandez is just one of two players to have won the PBA MVP four times, retiring in 1994 after winning multiple league championships and holding several individual records.