By Nick Giongco
Manny Pacquiao welcomed the decision of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) to give in to the call for the inclusion of the men’s basketball team to the 2018 Asian Games that gets going in Indonesia in less than two weeks.
“Very good decision for all of us to have (a basketball) delegation in the Asian Games,” Pacquiao, also a basketball player, said in a text message to the Bulletin late yesterday afternoon.
The SBP had earlier informed the Indonesia organizing committee that it won’t field a squad so it could focus on the country’s preparation for the 2023 World Cup the Philippines is hosting.
Due to the suspension slapped on the majority of the players by the FIBA after its ballyhooed brawl with Australia last month, the SBP felt that it could not assemble a strong team to Indonesia.
But the clamor of the public and expression of disapproval by key sportsmen prompted the SBP to have a change of heart specially after SAP Bong Go, also another basketball aficionado himself, dealt with the problem.
The core of the Rain or Shine team will make up the team with reinforcement from various ballclubs.