MANILA — Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go confirmed reports that the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) finally agreed on sending a Philippine squad to the Asian Games in Indonesia later this August.
The presidential assistant confirmed his involvement in negotiations for the Gilas Pilipinas’ participation in the Asiad.
“Resulta po ito ng pakikipag-usap ko sa dalawang grupo na kapwa naman maluwag na kinonsidera ang gusto natin na magpadala ng koponan sa nasabing palaro. Sayang po kasi ang pagkakataon pag pinalampas natin (This is the result of my conversation with the two groups who deeply considered our clamor to send a team to the athletic meet. It will be a missed opportunity if we pass up),” Go said in a statement on Sunday.
“Nakapanghihinayang po kasi na walang kakatawan sa Pilipinas sa basketball competition ng Asian Games lalo nasa puso ng halos bawat Pilipino ang larong basketball (It’s saddening that the Philippines could not send a representative to the Asian Games basketball competition especially that basketball is in the heart of every Filipino),” he added.
In the Gilas setup, Rain Or Shine players will make up most of the roster with NLEX head coach Yeng Guiao leading the national team.
Guiao will have a hand in selecting the remainder of his Gilas lineup.
The SBP and the PBA will make the development official in a press conference on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City before Game 5 of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup Finals between Ginebra and San Miguel.
Meanwhile, the presidential aide said Gilas and the rest of the Philippine team that will go to Jakarta and Palembang for the quadrennial meet will have President Rodrigo Duterte’s full support.
“Maaasahan ng Philippine delegates sa Asian Games ang buong suporta ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Andito kami para suportahan ang mga manlalarong Pilipino na magdadala ng karangalan sa ating bansa (The Philippine delegates to the Asian Games should expect the full support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. We are here to support the Filipino athletes who bring honor to our country),” Go said. (Ivan Stewart Saldajeno/PNA)
