Facing possible critical fallout from its indecision to truly and wholeheartedly support the country’s attempt to get a slot at the Olympics basketball tournament, the PBA recently announced that they will make their best players available and adjust their schedule next year.
The San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-supported teams were also able to put a plug, albeit temporarily, on the growing clamor to boycott their products and allay fears that the PBA opening season on 18 October 2015 will turn out to be a rally against Purefoods Star Hotshots, San Miguel Beermen and Ginebra San Miguel.
The three SMC teams failed to commit the participation of Marcio Lassiter, Junemar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio in the last Asia FIBA qualifier in China, where the national team finished as a runner-up to the Chinese. Only Marc Pingris of the Hotshots suited for Gilas Pilipinas after the emotionally-charged announcement where he expressed his desire to serve the country.
PBA chairman Robert Non scheduled a special meeting last 14 October specifically to discuss how it could accommodate the preparation and participation of the national team to the wildcard tournaments for the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics from 4-10 July.
The three sets of competition will be held simultaneously in key cities around the world or at about the same time the Governors Cup playoff is being held.
“It’s about the scheduling, paanong gagawin natin. And we have to bring it to the board for decision dahil nangangailangan ng adjustment sa third conference,” said Non during the formal press conference of the PBA’s 41st season last 13 October at the Diamond Hotel.
But more importantly, Non bared plans of giving coach Tab Baldwin the liberty to name the players he wanted for the Gilas pool, who will eventually make the final lineup to be named sometime in June next year.
The unsurprising move may have tempered public anger for now, but everyone is still wary. There is a lingering feeling in the basketball community that this is just a veiled attempt by both the PBA and the SMC group to win back public sympathy. There is still a big chance that once the 2016 Commissioner Cup ends, some players will again complain about injuries and come-up with all sorts of excuses, which the SMC could probably spin and use to run away from their patriotic commitments.
The San Miguel Corporation (SMC)-supported teams were also able to put a plug, albeit temporarily, on the growing clamor to boycott their products and allay fears that the PBA opening season on 18 October 2015 will turn out to be a rally against Purefoods Star Hotshots, San Miguel Beermen and Ginebra San Miguel.
The three SMC teams failed to commit the participation of Marcio Lassiter, Junemar Fajardo, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar and LA Tenorio in the last Asia FIBA qualifier in China, where the national team finished as a runner-up to the Chinese. Only Marc Pingris of the Hotshots suited for Gilas Pilipinas after the emotionally-charged announcement where he expressed his desire to serve the country.
PBA chairman Robert Non scheduled a special meeting last 14 October specifically to discuss how it could accommodate the preparation and participation of the national team to the wildcard tournaments for the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics from 4-10 July.
The three sets of competition will be held simultaneously in key cities around the world or at about the same time the Governors Cup playoff is being held.
“It’s about the scheduling, paanong gagawin natin. And we have to bring it to the board for decision dahil nangangailangan ng adjustment sa third conference,” said Non during the formal press conference of the PBA’s 41st season last 13 October at the Diamond Hotel.
But more importantly, Non bared plans of giving coach Tab Baldwin the liberty to name the players he wanted for the Gilas pool, who will eventually make the final lineup to be named sometime in June next year.
The unsurprising move may have tempered public anger for now, but everyone is still wary. There is a lingering feeling in the basketball community that this is just a veiled attempt by both the PBA and the SMC group to win back public sympathy. There is still a big chance that once the 2016 Commissioner Cup ends, some players will again complain about injuries and come-up with all sorts of excuses, which the SMC could probably spin and use to run away from their patriotic commitments.
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