PSC supports Fiba-Asia hosting

THE Philippine Sports Commission expressed readiness to support the country’s hosting of the 2013 Fiba-Asia Basketball Championship to be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on Aug. 1 to 11.

PSC chairman Richie Garcia said they are offering both the Philsports Arena in Pasig City and Ninoy Aquino Stadium along Vito Cruz St. in Malate, Manila as practice or alternate venues for the prestigious event.

Garcia urged organizer Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) headed by businessman Manny V. Pangilinan to immediately make the necessary arrangement with the PSC so that early booking can be done.

“We are offering the Ninoy Aquino Stadium and Philsports Arena as practice venue or alternate venue. But the SBP should make an early booking with us because there are also others who want to use these venues,” said Garcia.

Some 1,000 athletes from 16 countries, including powerhouse China, Iran, Japan and Korea are seeing action in the event, which was earlier awarded to Lebanon but withdrawn by Fiba-Asia for security reasons.

The other venue considered by the SBP is the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City.

The officials of Fiba-Asia will be billeted at the Sofitel Hotel and the players at the Diamond Hotel. The Philippines last hosted the event in 1973, when it was still known as the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Basketball Championship won by the Filipino cagers with Ramon Fernandez, Tembong Melencio, Manny Paner, Yoyong Martirez, Robert Jaworski, Bags Adornado, Big-Boy Reynoso and Francis Arnaiz at the helm.