ALLAN THE MAN

The Philippines’ bid to host next year’s FIBA Asia Championship is not yet completely dead, according to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios.

“There’s still a chance,” Barrios said. “We’re still keeping an open mind about the hosting of the FIBA Asia Championship, but we’ve set a time table for this.”

Last week, FIBA Asia awarded the rights to host next year’s championship, which serves as qualifier to the 2014 FIBA World Cup, to Lebanon. This was even though the Philippine contingent pulled out all the stops for its bid, with SBP president Manuel V. Pangilinan leading the presentation.

FIBA Asia told the SBP that the Philippines would be awarded the hosting if Lebanon were to prove itself incapable of fulfilling hosting duties, which drew the ire of Pangilinan.

“If FIBA Asia thought Lebanon were capable of hosting, then so be it. Why are we made a bridesmaid, a spare part, the fifth wheel (to mix metaphors). It certainly gives the impression that FIBA wasn’t at all sure,” he said. InterAKTV is part of InterAksyon.com, the news website of TV5, which is chaired by Pangilinan.

Barrios said that the SBP has set a deadline for FIBA Asia to make its final decision.

“We’ve given them until November 30. It’s November 30 or nothing at all,” Barrios added.

Lebanon is set to host this year’s FIBA Asia Champions’ Cup, which the former PBA commissioner said would be a good gauge for the country’s readiness to hold next year’s championship.

“They will have the chance to see it for their selves in the coming FIBA Asia Champions’ Cup,” said Barrios.

The time is ticking since the Philippines would also need to finalize arrangements for the venue, the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

“They’ve asked me kung wala na raw bang pag-asa kasi ibibigay na nila sa iba na gustong magpa-book sa MOA, but I told them na kung puwede, hintayin muna ng konti dahil there’s still a window of opportunity,” said Barrios.

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