MVP, city mayors sign
FIBA covenant
by rick olivares
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Manuel V.
Pangilinan, Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Francis Tolentino, and
the representatives of the cities of Makati, Manila, and Pasay signed a
covenant last Friday at the Dusit Hotel Manila that will help ensure the
successful staging of the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship in Manila from August
1-11.
“Importante kasi kailangan ng SBP ang support ng
local government for the success of the tournament,” underscored Pangilinan.
“The different cities will help in providing the hotels for the players, the
VIPs, team officials, and referees. They will also be providing security for
the entire event. It’s an important event not just for Philippine basketball
but also for the country. It’s a terrific opportunity to show the world that we
can host a world-class event. If successful, this can open the door for other
big or even bigger events.”
Although Pasay City Mayor Antonino Calixto was unable
to attend the event, through his representative Atty. Dennis Acorda, the
recently re-elected mayor conveyed his support and noted that, “It’s a
formidable team that we have here and I am not just referring to the athletes.
This is a dream team (along with Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay Jr. and Manila
Mayor Joseph Estrada) and with a member whose initials is ‘MVP’, I don’t know
how we can possibly lose.”
Acorda detailed the extent of the support of the city
of Pasay: “We extended the use of the recently refurbished Cuneta Astrodome for
practices - free of use - for all the teams. And we will be coordinating with
the MMDA and PNP for traffic and the safety of everyone for these games. This
is a big deal also for the city of Pasay.”
On his part, MMDA Chairman Tolentino bared that
although there will be no traffic re-routing schemes, “ We will assist in the
traffic and crowd management in and around the event areas.”
“It’s a total effort,” summed up Pangilinan. “To
demonstrate to the guest delegations our particular brand of hospitality. This
isn’t just about basketball, it’s about putting our best foot forward.”
The basketball matches of the Fiba Asia tournament
will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City as well as the Ninoy
Aquino Stadium in Manila. The Cuneta Astrodome will also be the site for the
various countries’ practices.
The 2013 FIBA Asia Championship is only the second
time that the Philippines will be hosting the prestigious international
basketball tournament. The last time the Philippines hosted Fiba was in 1973
and is curiously the last time the country won a major basketball tournament.
Awaiting the top three countries is a slot of at the FIBA World Championship in
Spain next year.
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