Name the price!
With these words coming from no less than BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) president Manny Pangilinan, the Philippines is embarking on a long-term program aimed at boosting the country's chances in the international arena following San Miguel-Team Pilipinas' heartbreaking exit in Tokushima, Japan recently.
And a new, more long-term program is currently being set up by the BAP-SBP, wth Pangilinan calling it a “national mission.”
According to BAP-SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio, the country is forming an under-18 team that will at least form the core for the Nationals' bids for international tournaments from next year on to the 2012 London Olympics.
“With coach Franz Pumaren leading the way, we are currently in the process of identifying the junior players who will form our national pool,” Gregorio yesterday said.
Patrick Gregorio has also been given the go-signal by Pangilinan to bid for said Asian junior tournament as well as the 2009 qualifier for the World Championship in Turkey the following year.
“Fiba-Asia has given me a verbal advisory to be among the first to bid for next year's juniors. But it is in the 2009 Worlds qualifier we're really after,” Gregorio said.
“I've learned that unlike in the Olympics, where only two slots are given Asia, three Asian slots are up for grabs in the Worlds. In other words, a greater chance to qualify there.”
The entire program is in line with Pangilinan's directive following a disappointing finish by San Miguel-Pilipinas in the recent Fiba-Asia tilt in Tokushima, Japan. After being bracketed in what RP coach Chot Reyes said as the “Group of Death,” the Nationals wound up ninth.
That put an end to the country's quest for an Olympic return next year in Beijing. The Filipinos last took part in Olympic basketball in 1972.
To avoid a repeat of such a catastrophe, Pangilinan ordered Gregorio to bid for the 2009 qualifier, “no matter what the cost.”
“It is time to start from scratch and make new plans,” said Pangilinan during last Sunday's PBA Press Corps Awards Night where he was the guest of honor and keynote speaker.
Pangilinan's vision, which includes the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship, the regional qualifier for the London Olympics the following year, is all geared to the London Olympics and he added the BAP-SBP and the entire country should act as one for these missions because of the Filipinos' inherent passion for basketball.
“Basketball seems Quixotic, a fool's dream, even a nightmare,” he noted. “But the fact is Filipinos have, since time immemorial, been in love with basketball.
“And if we love our people, if we respect their desires and want them to achieve their dreams and not disappoint them, I see no choice but for us to support basketball.”
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at least, no more sweet and wishful thinkings..action speaks louder than words for our basketball officials right now.. God bless to their plans!
With these words coming from no less than BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (BAP-SBP) president Manny Pangilinan, the Philippines is embarking on a long-term program aimed at boosting the country's chances in the international arena following San Miguel-Team Pilipinas' heartbreaking exit in Tokushima, Japan recently.
And a new, more long-term program is currently being set up by the BAP-SBP, wth Pangilinan calling it a “national mission.”
According to BAP-SBP executive director Patrick Gregorio, the country is forming an under-18 team that will at least form the core for the Nationals' bids for international tournaments from next year on to the 2012 London Olympics.
“With coach Franz Pumaren leading the way, we are currently in the process of identifying the junior players who will form our national pool,” Gregorio yesterday said.
Patrick Gregorio has also been given the go-signal by Pangilinan to bid for said Asian junior tournament as well as the 2009 qualifier for the World Championship in Turkey the following year.
“Fiba-Asia has given me a verbal advisory to be among the first to bid for next year's juniors. But it is in the 2009 Worlds qualifier we're really after,” Gregorio said.
“I've learned that unlike in the Olympics, where only two slots are given Asia, three Asian slots are up for grabs in the Worlds. In other words, a greater chance to qualify there.”
The entire program is in line with Pangilinan's directive following a disappointing finish by San Miguel-Pilipinas in the recent Fiba-Asia tilt in Tokushima, Japan. After being bracketed in what RP coach Chot Reyes said as the “Group of Death,” the Nationals wound up ninth.
That put an end to the country's quest for an Olympic return next year in Beijing. The Filipinos last took part in Olympic basketball in 1972.
To avoid a repeat of such a catastrophe, Pangilinan ordered Gregorio to bid for the 2009 qualifier, “no matter what the cost.”
“It is time to start from scratch and make new plans,” said Pangilinan during last Sunday's PBA Press Corps Awards Night where he was the guest of honor and keynote speaker.
Pangilinan's vision, which includes the 2011 Fiba-Asia Championship, the regional qualifier for the London Olympics the following year, is all geared to the London Olympics and he added the BAP-SBP and the entire country should act as one for these missions because of the Filipinos' inherent passion for basketball.
“Basketball seems Quixotic, a fool's dream, even a nightmare,” he noted. “But the fact is Filipinos have, since time immemorial, been in love with basketball.
“And if we love our people, if we respect their desires and want them to achieve their dreams and not disappoint them, I see no choice but for us to support basketball.”
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
at least, no more sweet and wishful thinkings..action speaks louder than words for our basketball officials right now.. God bless to their plans!
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