Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio said the best way to promote 3×3 competition in the country is to have the best players see action in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games which will be held in the country starting on Nov. 30.
Panlilio said that is the reason why the federation is fielding in an all-PBA team following the formation of a 12-man pool led by FIBA World Cup veterans CJ Perez and Robert Bolick in the biennial meet.
Also part of the pool are Terrence Romeo, Chris Banchero, Ian Sangalang, Mo Tautuaa, Chris Newsome, Baser Amer, Anthony Semerad, Mac Belo, Raymund Almazan, and Jason Perkins. Panlilio said the head coach will be named soon.
“The SBP is very thankful to the PBA for allowing its players to participate in the 3×3 tournament,” said Panlilio in a statement.
“As you very well know, we are continuously expanding the growth and pushing for the continued popularity of 3×3 in our country and the best way to promote it is to utilize our PBA superstars as our ambassadors,” he added.
Panlilio made the announcement Thursday after the league deliberated the roster of the Gilas Pilipinas rosters for the 5-on-5 and the 3×3 competitions.
Because the SEA Games has a different guideline, as compared to FIBA 3×3 which only allows players in the Top 100 to see action, Panlilio said this opens the door for PBA players to participate in the regional showpiece on November 30 to December 11.
“Players who play here are not required to be in the FIBA Top 100 in the country. Having said that, we wanted to take advantage of the PBA opening its doors for any of its players to be used in the competition,” said Panlilio.
“I ask our countrymen to support our Gilas Pilipinas Men and Gilas Pilipinas 3×3 teams in the upcoming SEA GAMES in Manila,” he added.
This will be the first time that 3×3 event will be played in the SEA Games.
Meantime, the SBP chief commended the efforts of Chooks-To-Go after the country moved to No. 21 in the FIBA 3×3 ranking and earned a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
“I also would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed in our surge in the 3×3 FIBA ranking. We are now #21. Special thanks to Chooks-To-Go for their unwavering support to the program,” said Panlilio, adding that CTG offered its players but the SBP wants then to focus in the OQT.
“We are positioning their players for the Olympic Qualifiers. We are excited to partner with them as they have players who are eligible to play for our country as well,” he said. (Waylon Galvez)
