Philippines to skip Asian Games basketball

MANILA, Philippines — The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced that they are forgoing the chance to compete in the 18th Asian Games in Jakarata, Indonesia this August, hours after huddling with the Philippine Basketball Association’s board of governors and its commissioner Willie Marcial on Thursday.

In a statement released late Thursday, the SBP said that among the factors that influenced the decision are “sustainable success in future tournaments” and the bid to “appeal FIBA Disciplinary Panel’s recent Decision.”

SBP Statement on Philippine Participation in the 2018 Asian Games pic.twitter.com/bYJkGEi74R

— SBP (@officialSBPinc) July 26, 2018

Just last week, the FIBA issued its official decision on the July 2 incident that marred a FIBA World Cup qualifying game in Bocaue, Bulacan. This resulted in the suspension of 10 players of the Philippine national basketball team — with varying lengths. Also banned were head coach Chot Reyes and deputy Jong Uichico.

A month before the incident, it was already decided that the core of the TNT KaTropa will be sent to the regional contest. But the bans — which cover four of the team’s key players — prompted the SBP and the PBA to look for other options.

On July 19, chatter had it that the core of the Rain or Shine Elasto Painters will be sent to the Asiad instead. This was eventually confirmed by Marcial a day later. It was formally bared shortly after the board meeting Thursday that the Elasto Painters were going to represent the country with its former mentor Yeng Guiao at the helm and current tactician Caloy Garcia assuming the right-hand man post.

The country's basketball federation went on to apologize to the PBA, Rain or Shine’s owners and fans.

The Asian Games is scheduled from August 18 to September 2. The Philippines is ranked third all-time in the men’s basketball behind leader China and South Korea. The Filipinos have collected a total of seven medals throughout the contest’s history: four gold medals, silver and a pair of bronze medals.