Gilas player will be Asian Games flag-bearer

MANILA, Philippines — A member of the Gilas Pilipinas five will be the flag-bearer of the national delegation during the opening ceremony of the 17th Asian Games in South Korea from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.

Philippine chef de mission Richie Garcia said Tuesday that anyone from the team that is also expected to vie for the gold medal in the continental Games deserves the honor.

“They have earned it considering the team’s showing in the Fiba Asia championship,” said Garcia, also chair of the Philippine Sports Commission.

By placing second in last year’s Fiba Asia Championship in Manila, the Filipinos qualified for the Fiba World Cup slated late next month in Spain.

“I’m not yet sure who among the players will be named,” said Garcia after emerging from the Asian Games task force meeting.

A source told the Inquirer that June Mar Fajardo and Japeth Aguilar have the inside track.

The other members of the 2013 Gilas five are Marc Pingris, Jason Castro, Jimmy Alapag, Gabe Norwood, Jeffrei Chan, Ranidel de Ocampo, Gary David, LA Tenorio, Larry Fonacier and naturalized player Marcus Douthit.

“It’s been quite a long time since we had a basketball player as flag-bearer,” said Garcia.

Jimmy Mariano, a 6-4 forward-center, carried the PH flag in the 1972 Munich Olympics.