‘LOST HOME STAND’
Instead of playing in an exhibition game, NBA star Tyson Chandler and Gilas Pilipinas forward Gabe Norwood get busy chatting while doing some stretching. (INQUIRER PHOTO)
The Last Home Stand All-Star Charity event took on a disastrous twist last night when what was initially scheduled as a match between the Gilas Pilipinas basketball squad and a group of NBA all stars turned into a glorified training camp after the visiting players were barred from suiting up.
An atmosphere that started out with a lot of electricity and anticipation ended in an awkward reception that crescendoed into boos and angry curses after an announcement made by national coach Chot Reyes that what was on the menu for the night was an open workout.
“We are going to show you how your Gilas Pilipinas will prepare for the Fiba World Cup,” Reyes told the crowd at the coliseum, a lot of whom paid as much as P24,000 for what was billed as an exhibition game and the last chance for the public to see the national team in action before it flies to Spain for the World Cup.
PLDT’s Ariel Fermin also addressed the crowd, promising that organizers will refund those who did not enjoy last night’s serving.
Sonny Barrios, the executive director of the Samahang Basketbol Pilipinas whose president is PLDT/Smart top chief Manny V. Pangilinan, said the refund scheme is being put in motion because the telecommunications tycoon does not want the public to feel shortchanged.
In a press conference later in the evening, Pangilinan announced that today’s scheduled event has been cancelled and a refund system will be put in place for ticket holders.
“I’m extremely disappointed with the turn of events,” Pangilinan said. “But what is important is that we have a refund system in place and that we are canceling [today’s] event.”
National coach Chot Reyes later admitted that the players were scared of sanctions that would be slapped on them if they suited up for a game.
NBA players are barred from playing in non-sanctioned events during the offseason.
A source close to the PLDT top brass said the telecommunications company entered into an agreement with a US-based events group in good faith that the NBA players would play against Gilas Pilipinas.
The event organizer, East West Group, was the same group that brought in Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and others for a pair of exhibition games previously.
PLDT, however, was informed by the group hours before the event that the players were barred from playing.
However, Fermin told reporters that this was exactly what was planned for the night.
“We never said in our print ads that there was a game. We said it would be a charity event,” Fermin said.
East West Group echoed the same line.
“If you look back, we were very careful that we would not announce a game,” said East West Group’s Chao Espaldon.
DISAPPOINTED FANS
Minutes into the open workout, the audience started voicing its displeasure, with some even cursing while the workout was in progress.
Cebu 1st District Representative Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas, a basketball aficionado who manages the multi-titled University of the Visayas Green Lancers in the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. (Cesafi), was at the event with his entire family and was surprised to know that there would be no game happening.
“We’re really disappointed with what happened. People were booing already,” Gullas said.
“This is disappointing,” said Rocky Asuncion, who traveled all the way from Nueva Ecija to watch the event. “We had to miss work and travel for three hours to make it here expecting to watch a game.”
A family seated at the patron section was also overheard losing their cool, ranting “P50,000 tapos practice lang? C’mon, don’t fool us again.”
“This is the worst sporting event I’ve ever been to.” said a fan seated beside Inquirer reporter Mark Giongc.
Fermin told reporters they will announce the hotline for those who would want their tickets refunded.
“Kung di sila masaya, puwede magpa-refund, pero sana naman wag,” said Fermin. (If they’re not happy, they can ask for a refund. But hopefully they won’t.)