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| Thanks to Manny Pangilinan's intervention, the SBP gets to host the FIBA ACQ again. FIBA (file photo) |
MANILA--Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio revealed on Saturday that it was Chairman Emeritus Manny Pangilian's call for the governing body to once again bid for the right to host the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers third window bubble.
“SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan was really adamant about volunteering once again to host and it was under his leadership that led us to make the necessary moves to get the ball rolling again,” Panlilio said upon confirmation that the Philippines will indeed be hosting an ACQ bubble.
[Related Story: PH reclaims ACQ hosting rights]
He also confirmed that the ACQ bubble for Group A and another group will happen in Angeles with the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center as the playing arena and Quest Hotel within the Clark Freeport Zone as the billeting area.
Panlilio then said that the bid to reclaim the hosting rights is the SBP's way to repay its trust to the Qatar Basketball Federation, which stepped in after the SBP initially begged off from hosting the ACQ due to the concerns regarding the United Kingdom variant of COVID-19.
“The Qatar Basketball Federation was there to help out when we could not push through with our hosting and it’s just right for the SBP to be here for them and for FIBA as well,” Panlilio quipped.
He then called on everyone to join hands in providing the fans the best basketball action in spite of the COVID-19 threat.
“What we have to remember during these difficult times that the entire international basketball community is part of one team. We must do our best to help each other as much as we can. We know that our great fans from all over Asia draw a lot of inspiration from their respective national teams and this is why hosting these games holds a lot of value even during a pandemic,” Panlilio further said.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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