Philippine chef de mission Richard Gomez. Photo by June Navarro
Fans have voiced their displeasure over social media. Several sports personalities have also spoken against the decision of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to pull out the national team from the Asian Games. It’s the turn of the country’s chef de mission to the Asiad to chime in with a message of hope.
There’s still time for a change of heart.
READ: PBA board not consulted by SBP about Asian Games withdrawal
“Let’s wait and see,” said Richard Gomez during Tuesday’s Philippine Sportswriters Association forum backed by Tapa King and Pagcor at the tennis lounge of Rizal Memorial Sports Center. “Maybe we’ll know in the coming days.”
“We have a lot of players who are in excellent shape all year round,” added the fencing president.
The mayor of Ormoc City added there’s still time for the SBP to come up with a competitive team since the deadline for finalizing the Philippine delegation is on Aug. 9 during the delegation registration meeting in Jakarta.
READ: PBA regrets Asian Games pullout
The Games will run from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.
“Technically, we can still send a team. Our men’s basketball squad is already accredited. This is our No. 1 sport. Win or lose, Filipinos will watch it,” said Gomez.
The SBP announced it was pulling out of the Asian Games to focus on qualifying for the 2019 Fiba World Cup instead.
READ: Failure to form competitive Gilas team led to SBP Asiad pullout,
“It’s sad for Philippine basketball fans that we don’t have a team in the Asian Games,” said Gomez. “The Asian Games is just as important as the World Cup or even the SEA Games. The fact remains that we have a team to represent the country.”
Gomez said if the SBP remains adamant with its withdrawal, the Philippine Olympic Committee would face sanctions from the Olympic Council of Asia.
READ: Philippines facing fines for SBP’s Asian Games pullout
Sources said the POC would be asked to pay $20,000 for the pullout. It could be the first time that the Philippines won’t be sending a team in men’s basketball since the 2006 Doha edition when the country was suspended by the International Basketball Federation (Fiba).
Sources said the POC can send a team of its choice to the Asian Games as a last resort.