|
BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny
V. Pangilinan is also batting for an all-pro team in the coming
Southeast Asia Basketball Association tournament this May.
Pangilinan supported the
recommendation of PBA commissioner Noli Eala to send the best team
possible in the FIBA-Asia qualifier possibly in Thailand.
“I had already expressed my
views regarding on that matter to the selection committee and I
wanted to remove any item of uncertainty that we may not win,”
said Pangilinan.
“Other Asian countries may have
beefed up, so why take the chance?” Pangilinan stressed.
Junjun Capsitrano, member of the
five-man selection committee, said a resolution could be passed to
the SBP board to give way for an all-pro team in Seaba.
Reports came out that the
selection committee, headed by PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad, are
mulling to field in a mixture of amateur and pro players in the RP 5
in Seaba.
“Nandoon na tayo, why not send
the best team? We should work out the best solution possible,”
Pangilinan stated.
BAP-SBP vice-chairman Ricky
Vargas supported the move and fielding an all-pro could only assure
the country of realizing the Olympic dream.
”We want to go back with
a bang, with a vengeance. The qualifying tournament [Seaba] for the
FIBA-Asia tournament could lead us to our ultimate dream which is
the Olympics,” said Vargas.
Eala noted that the professional
sector has the right to take care of the Seaba tourney based on
Article 13, Section 1 of the bylaws of BAP-SBP.
--Joel Orellana
|
