|
Manu
Ginobili, Andrei Kirilenko and Andrew Bogut, all
certified international basketball stars, may yet play
on Philippine soil.
This, if
the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) awards
the hosting of the prestigious 2008 edition of Diamond
Ball for Men to the Philippines.
But the
Philippines faces a formidable foe in China, which is
also wooing the Fiba for the hosting of the tournament.
Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang
Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) president Manny V.
Pangilinan said the federation is dead serious in
hosting the tournament and will send an emissary to the
Fiba board meeting set from December 7 to 9 in
Chicago,
Illinois,
to stress their intention.
“We will
send a representative there to lobby to the Fiba board
and show our desire to host the tournament,” said
Pangilinan.
The
event, which is held every two years, will feature
regional champions Argentina, Angola, Australia, Russia
and Iran. If the country wins the hosting, it could
field the same national team of coach Chot Reyes. The US
won’t be competing in the event.
BAP-SBP
secretary-general Patrick Gregorio said the country has
a big chance of getting the nod of the Fiba board for
its neutrality and proximity to Beijing, the host of the
2008 Olympics.
“The
Philippines is an ideal venue for this tournament
because we’re near China and neutral to the competing
teams,” said Gregorio.
BAP-SBP,
through the help of Solar Sports, has earmarked P30
million for the tournament which will take place from
July 29 to August 1 next year, just days before the
Beijing Olympics start on August 8.
“We’re
really hoping that we can get the hosting because this
is really good opportunity for us to witness a
world-class basketball tournament,” Gregorio added.
The Fiba
board will decide on the venue on December 7. |
