ALLAN THE MAN

FINALLY getting the players it desired, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is out to seek the next best thing to do – bid to stage one of the three Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT) here in 2016.

Meralco board of governor Al Panlilio said the country’s governing body for basketball will discuss the possibility of hosting one of the qualifiers now that the PBA board has acceded to the SBP’s request to make the best talent available for the Gilas Pilipinas pool.

The PBA on Wednesday agreed to make changes to its calendar to accommodate the Philippine national men’s basketball team in its quest to bring the country back to Olympics.

The league announced that its season-ending conference, the Governors’ Cup, will be moved after the conclusion of the 2016 FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament that is slated from July 5 to July 11 next year.

The PBA on Wednesday announced the 17-player pool of the Philippine national men’s basketball team for its campaign in the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year as the league reiterated its “full support” to Gilas Pilipinas.

Part of the list are reigning back-to-back MVP June Mar Fajardo and Marcio Lassiter of San Miguel Beer; Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio of Barangay Ginebra San Miguel; Paul Lee, Jeff Chan and Gabe Norwood of Rain or Shine;

With their runner-up finish in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship, the Philippine national men’s basketball team will have one of the three spots allotted for the Asian region in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament next year.

But Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manuel V. Pangilinan believes that there is not much to gain from participating in the tournament and that the Gilas Pilipinas program should instead look ahead to the future.

“My view is that, I’m not saying we will get chosen for the wild card, but frankly my view is that we should opt out of it,” Pangilinan told InterAksyon.com in an interview.

The Philippine national men’s basketball team fell short of earning an automatic ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics after losing to China in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship final on Saturday in Changsha, China.

But Gilas Pilipinas’ Olympic dream is still alive, although the squad faces a more difficult road to bring the country back to its first Olympic appearance in 44 years.

Even far away from the squad, Filipino-American NBA player Jordan Clarkson wished good luck to the Philippine national men’s basketball team that is currently competing in the 2015 FIBA Asia Championship in China.

Clarkson had been considered to be part of Gilas Pilipinas in the tournament, but time constraints regarding his eligibility process as well as his commitment with the Los Angeles Lakers ruled him out.

“I hope they make it to Rio (Olympics) and have the opportunity to keep the team and play well. That’s definitely gonna be good,” Clarkson said during the Lakers’ media day.

Incoming PBA chairman Ramon Segismundo said the league-backed Gilas Pilipinas intends to qualify to the Olympics, which will take place in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

This, he said, is apart from the nationals’ target to “make it to the Top 16” of the FIBA World Cup in 2014.

This is why, according to Segismundo, the league is including in its plans to rally the country behind Gilas and the PBA.