QUALIFIERS IN PH!

Members of the Gilas Pilipinas National Team celebrate at the Mall of Asia Arena after a victory over Korea in the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship.

Fiba gives Philippines hosting rights for one of three Olympic qualifying tournaments

After missing out on getting an outright berth to the 2016 Summer Olympics basketball tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the Gilas Pilipinas gets another shot to do in front of their adoring home fans after the Fiba Executive Committee awarded to the Philippines on Tuesday night the hosting rights to one of three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

This development came to be during a meeting of the sport’s world governing body that was held in Geneva, Switzerland. Also named hosts were Belgrade, Serbia and Turin, Italy.

At stake at each qualifying tournament is a place amongst the world’s best basketball teams at the Olympic basketball competition, where the country has not played at since 1972.

Six teams are slated to compete in Manila at the Mall of Asia Arena from July 5 to 11.  The draw for this tournament  will be held a week from now.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan was elated to hear of the news and tweeted as such, “Yes!! Philippines to host the Fiba Olympic Qualifying in July. Laban Pilipinas! Puso!” said the well-known businessman and sports patron.

The SBP also sent out this statement not long after the announcement.

“SBP wishes to express its gratitude to Fiba and its Executive Committee for giving us one of the hosting rights for the Rio Olympics Qualifying. We are indeed pleased and privileged to receive this news. I wish to convey to Fiba President Horacio Muratore and Secretary General Patrick Baumann SBP’s assurances that it will do its best in making the event worthy of an Olympic event. We wish our Smart Gilas team Godspeed in its quest to be part of the Olympic movement again. Laban Pilipinas! Puso!”