SBP bids to host 2010 FIBA Asia Champions Cup

The Philippines will be bidding to host the 2010 FIBA Asia Champions Cup, which might serve as a springboard to the country’s planned staging of the FIBA Asia Men’s Championship in 2011. According to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala, the SBP board decided to submit a bid for the Champions Cup to show the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) that the Philippines is ready to host major cage events. “We will be formalizing our bid to FIBA Asia before October 15. The Champions Cup will be a prelude event to our bid for the Men’s Championship in 2011 and we hope to show FIBA our capability to host the men’s championship," said Eala.

The country has already submitted its letter of intent to host the 2011 Men’s Championship, hoping to win the rights since the meet will serve as a qualifying event to the 2012 London Olympics. The Philippines is disputing the hosting rights with Jordan. “It is very important for us to win the 2011 hosting since we are trying our best to make it back to the Olympics. We hope to convince the FIBA Asia that we are capable of hosting the Men’s Championship with a successful hosting of the 2010 Champions Cup," explained Eala. The country has already hosted the Champions Cup twice in its 19-year existence, first in 1996 when the Hapee Toothpaste team bannered by Tony Harris and Bobby Parks won the title, and later in 2005 when San Miguel Beer finished fifth among 10 competing teams. The SBP, through its partnership with Smart, has laid down a three-year program intended to bring the Philippines back to the Olympics in 2012. For this purpose, the group has formed the Smart Gilas team under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman, which bunched together the land's finest collegiate and amateur players along with American CJ Giles, a candidate for naturalization. The latest players to join the Gilas team are 6’9" Japeth Aguilar from Burger King in the Philippine Basketball Association and 6’6" Rabeh Al-Hussaini from back-to-back UAAP champion Ateneo. More recruits eyed Negotiations are in the works for the acquisition of University of the East gunner Paul Lee and 6’8" University of Cebu center Junmar Fajardo. “We have started talking with Paul Lee and we will make the announcement soon. As far as Fajardo is concerned, we have initially talked with his advisers but negotiations will be held after the CESAFI season which will happen two to three weeks from now," said Eala. The SBP executive added that he is happy with the composition of the pool, which has ballooned to 19 with the expected arrival of Fil-Am Chris Lutz. But the final composition, Eala stressed, will really depend on the work ethic of the players during the practices and competitions. “This is a solid core we’re having for two years. But this does not mean this is our final line-up. Our line-up continues to be dynamic and fluid. Coach Rajko will evaluate the players and the team’s performance everyday," he said. "What we can promise everyone who has supported the Gilas team is that we will bring the strongest national team when we play in the FIBA Asia Men's Championship and hopefully to land into the Olympics," he added. - GMANews.TV