Lebanon, not Philippines, To Host 2013 FIBA Asia Championship Cup

Lebanon, and not the Philippines, will host the FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship next year.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios disclosed the news to InterAKTV shortly after the FIBA Asia executive committee informed them that Lebanon was granted the hosting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifier.

“It’s Lebanon with the condition that they (FIBA Asia) will give it to the Philippines once the host cannot make it,” wrote Barrios in a text message.

Lebanon presented right after the Philippines made a formal presentation on Wednesday. Earlier, the Philippines were informed to wait for the decision on Thursday, but it appeared Lebanon’s representatives during the bidding were able to convince the committee right away.

Curiously, Hagop Khajirian, the FIBA Asia secretary general, is a Lebanese.

Only last month, Khajirian went to the Philippines to inspect the MOA Arena and told SBP officials he was impressed with the venue.

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Top Basketball Personalities disappointed by FIBA Asia choice of Lebanon over Philippines.

After the Philippines lost its bid to host next year’s FIBA Asia Championship, some of the country’s top basketball personalities couldn’t help but express their surprise and disappointment over the decision to award the rights to Lebanon.

SMART-Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes took to Twitter to point out that unlike the Philippine contingent led by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manuel V. Pangilinan and PBA commissioner Chito Salud, Lebanon’s presentation was handled by its players.

Chot Reyes@coachot

Pinapunta pa si @iamMVP at si Com Salud, I bibigay din pala sa lugar na malapit sa gyera at player lang Ang nag present. Tsk tsk tsk!

The top three finishers in the FIBA Asia Championship will qualify for the 2014 FIBA World Cup, and holding the event would give the host country a homecourt edge.

Former SMART-Gilas team captain Chris Tiu, a veteran international campaigner, noted that Lebanon’s basketball facilities don’t compare to what is available in the Philippines, and hinted that something fishy went on.

Charles Tiu@charlestiu

So the Philippines didn't win the rights to host the fiba asia championship next year. It goes to lebanon. Wouldve been fun to watch live!

Christopher Tiu✔@chris_tiu

@charlestiu I'm sure it was influenced again. Their facilities are not Better than ours.

FIBA Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian is, incidentally, a Lebanese national.

Another former national player, Asi Taulava, had stronger words to say about basketball facilities in the West Asian nation.

DA ROCK @AsiTaulava5

Da biggest gym not arena in Lebanon is not bigger den San juan arena n its old. Did Lebanon just drop sum $$ 2 host Fiba Asia? SMH

source: interaksyon.com

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