THE PHILIPPINES is gunning to become host of the Fiba Asia men’s basketball championship next year with the spanking new Mall of Asia Arena as its proposed main venue.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios bared the country’s plan to stage the event that will be the qualifying tournament for the 2014 World Championship.
He said the efforts given to bolster the Philippine basketball program will come to a head when it takes its turn to host the Fiba Asia tilt, which the country is eyeing as an opportunity to return to the world stage.
The venue, which hosts collegiate games and even foreign acts, is expected to help convince the Fiba Asia executive board to grant the country hosting rights. The board will convene in September to make its decision.
“We will show proof of the Philippines’ capability to stage events of such magnitude by telling them the international competitions we have so far hosted,” said Barrios yesterday during the Scoop sa Kamayan session.
He said SBP official Moying Martelino and PBA commissioner Chito Salud will present the bid in a meeting in Tokyo that will coincide with the 4th Fiba Asia Cup slated Sept. 14 to 22. Marc Anthony Reyes