Basketball Marathon officials ‘confident’ PH can break record

Aspiring players for the 2014 Basketball Marathon being briefed before undergoing drills and physical tests during the tryouts. They were then trimmed down to 24.www.basketballmarathonph.com. Photo grab from www.basketballmarathonph.com

MANILA, Philippines — It’s only fitting that a country, known for its basketball fanaticism, will attempt to own the world record for the longest basketball game played.

The Philippines is eyeing to break the Guinness record of 112 hours and 13 seconds of nonstop hoops currently held by the US.

And officials behind the 2014 Basketball Marathon are optimistic that the Filipinos will be able set the mark.

“I’m confident to say we’ll beat that (record) barring any technical hitches,” said COO of the organizing Access Discovery Channel Jacque Ruby during Tuesday’s PSA Forum at Shakey’s Malate.

Twenty-four players, who are already undergoing immense training on a daily basis and conditioning at the PhilSports Arena while also taking nutritional diet as part of their preparations, comprise the two teams going for the record starting on March 24 at the Meralco Gym.

The participants were selected after two try-outs, extensive physical tests and a two-day panel interview.

“We’re taking a scientific approach into it. The Americans wala silang (they didn’t have) training when they broke the previous record and their average age is like 41-years-old at may dalawa silang (and they have two) 70-years-old,” said Ruby.

“Pero tayo ang (But we have an) average age natin (of) is 26-years-old and we’re training on a daily basis. Kaya I believe malaki talaga ang chance natin. (That’s why I believe we have a great chance,” he added.

The participants hope to eclipse the mark by March 28.

The game will be played under Fiba rules with the Samahang Basektbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) providing the referees, table officials and statisticians among others.

“It’s like a game. Well actually, it’s really a game,” said Ruby.

But with a twist. No timeouts, no halftime break and fouls of each players will go back to zero every two hours.

Ruby also said that the record had been broken on a yearly basis and the target now for the Philippines is to set it at 120 hours after the US took the record away from Hungary, which held the mark two years ago at 110 hours.

The country will also attempt to top the record for most points scored by each team. The final score of the record-breaking feat by the Amercans was 11,806-11,620.

As precautionary measures, doctors and three ambulances will be on standby during the event.

In partnership with the Gawad Kalinga, proceeds raised during the event will be used to build more than 20 houses and a basketball court in the “Yolanda”-stricken Visayas region.

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