Gilas gets outright Asia Cup slot

The original plan was to stage the national event at Agrifina Circle in Rizal Park.

But when SBP (Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas) executive director Sonny Barrios checked out the place Tuesday, he knew he had to look for a different venue for the Under-18 Three-on-Three Tatluhan National Finals scheduled this Sunday.

That’s only less than a week from today, but according to Sonny, “we may have to transfer. It doesn’t look good.”

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“Twenty finalists from all over the country will compete for three slots awarded to the Philippines in the 3×3 Fiba Asia Pacific Leg which we are hosting this July,” Barrios said, adding this Sunday’s “Tatluhan” will be free to the public as part of SBP’s grassroots development program.

You may recall that the SBP executive told the Inquirer two months ago that the Fiba was pushing the three-on-three, which is easy to organize and is basically designed for out-of-school youth.

“It’s a whole-day affair highlighted by interesting activities and side events,” Barrios said. “There will be a lot of gimmicks for the public. The whole family is invited to come.”

The 20 finalists in the tournament, sponsored by Talk ‘N Text, come from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

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Meanwhile, Barrios said Gilas Pilipinas will no longer be required to go through the Seaba Stankovic Cup to qualify for a major tournament.

“Fiba secretary general Hagop Khajirian has granted us exemption, so we will participate directly in the Fiba Asia Cup this July in Wuhan, China,” he said.

“The same event was held in Tokyo in 2012 where SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan led the Philippine delegation, which included PBA commissioner Chito Salud and former Fiba Asia secretary general Moying Martelino, to pitch for the hosting of the Fiba Asia Men’s Championship last year.”

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ALA Promotions has been officially granted a license by the California State Athletic Commission, making it the first promotional outfit from Asia that can stage fights in the United States.

After working for the license since November 2011, ALA president Michael Aldeguer said they are now ready to invade the United States, particularly California.