Fans come out to support PH’s bid to host Basketball World Cup

By: Randolph B. Leongson - Reporter / @RLeongsonINQ

INQUIRER.net / 03:59 PM June 12, 2015

Video by Ryan Leagogo/INQUIRER.net

Rufina Oval, 64, was awakened by her grandson Reolie early Friday morning, urging them to make the trip from their home in Batasan Hills to the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao.

Reolie, who is an avid Jayson Castro fan, was all smiles despite the moody weather just thinking of the opportunity to share the Independence Day noon with his favorite PBA players together with his grandmother.

Marikina resident Francis Estallo saw the news online and decided that he, too, would join the throng of fans wanting to show their passion to help the country’s Basketball World Cup bid.

Salmer Arce, 32, was among those diehard fans who flocked to Araneta Center. Towing his son Richardson along, the Jimmy Alapag fan took the chance to get a glimpse of his idol and show his support to the country’s cause.

All three of them, together with the legions of fans who converged at the Araneta Center, had one thing in mind: to show the world the Filipinos’ passion for basketball and together make an impression before the Philippines presents itself to FIBA for a chance to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup of Basketball.

Patricia Bermudez-Hizon, the project head for #PUSO2019 fan rally, was overwhelmed with the show of support from the fans.

“I have to be really happy for the country because at the end of the day, this is for the Philippines: all of us basketball-loving, basketball-crazy fans. Those who came as early as 8 o’clock shows that they’re really excited and really want to show their support,” she said.

Holding the event on June 12, Independence Day, Bermudez-Hizon said that the fan rally is just one of the few things which further strengthened the country’s bid to host the grandest stage of international basketball.

“This is an integral part of our bid to host the Basketball World Cup in the Philippines. It’s a perfect way for us to unite for a common cause – to bring the FIBA World Cup in 2019 here.”

It’s not just the fans who trooped to Araneta Center.

Kobe Paras and his father Benjie, players from the MVP teams Talk ‘N Text, Meralco, and NLEX, as well as TV5 stars Ogie Alcasid and Gelli de Belen also participated in the ‘‘solidarity event’’.

With fans braving the scorching heat and the brief rainshower, Gilas assistant coach Jimmy Alapag was also elated with what he saw on Friday.

“That’s the essence of who we are. That’s what Gilas is all about: the puso to fight and come together, whether it be on the basketball court or to rally our country together to get the best basketball players here. It’s awesome and our fans are the best,” he said.

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Alapag also believed that this show of force would be an essential boost in the country’s campaign of winning the hosting rights.

“It will definitely help. We’re going up against some tough competition. It’s important for the entire country to come together just like we did for FIBA Asia and just like what we did in the World Cup,” he said. “We have to show FIBA how much we love the game, how passionate we are about the game and how much we deserve the World Cup here in our country.”