WILL there be an official jersey swap too, between the Philippines and Australia when the two countries meet in the second window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers on Sunday?
Gilas Pilipinas and New Zealand already did a template prior to their meeting on Thursday at the Mall of Asia Arena in celebration of the 60-year of diplomatic ties between the two nations.
READ: Basketball Australia, SBP team up to put closure to 2018 brawl
Both sides exchanged framed no. 60 jerseys prior to tip-off as their way of further strengthening the ties between the two countries.
New Zealand ambassador to the Philippines Catherine McIntosh said the jersey number ‘represents 60 years of our people working together, traveling, and living in each other’s countries.’
“When we swap those jerseys, we are saying that even if we’re rivals for the 40 minutes that we’re on the court, we are teammates for life in everything else,” she said.
Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio welcomed the New Zealand delegates in a pre-game cocktails and later, presided over the jersey swap at center court.
Gregorio was joined by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Ricky Vargas, commissioners Walter Torres and Fritz Gaston, Presidential Communications Office secretary Dave Gomez, and Department of Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol Assistant Secretary Ariel Penaranda.
“I believed it’s a beautiful collaboration and partnership in sports diplomacy,” said Gregorio of the ceremony.
PBA Board vice chairman Alfrancis Chua and Converge team governor Archen Cayabyab, along with PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial and PSC Executive Director Atty. Guillermo Iroy also joined the cocktails.
The light mood followed what was a competitive game between the Filipinos and Tall Blacks, who prevailed behind a close 69-66 win.
Meanwhile, the Gilas Pilipinas-Australia match marks the first time the two sides will be playing again in the country following the 2018 brawl that marred a similar World Cup qualifying game.
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