IN 2013, hosting the FIBA Asia Cup was uncertain, until MVP took matters in his own hands
It’s been 12 years since the country hosted the FIBA Asia Championship in 2013 but few may know that the hosting bid hang in the balance until some “drastic” measures were undertaken by the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP).
It took a trip halfway around the world and follow-up talks in a couple of Asian capitals and also the personal intervention and promise of SBP godfather Manuel V. Pangilinan before the deal was closed that made the Philippines the hosts.
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As narrated by former SBP executive director Sonny Barrios during a recent meet-up at the PBA office, the FIBA did not give any hint of its plans as the SBP waited patiently for a reply after filing its bid.
Days passed, then weeks and then a few months and there was no call, no letter, no email, nothing, said Barrios and this made bid architect MVP worried.
MVP had badly wanted to host the FIBA Asia Cup to give the federation a window on the country’s organizational expertise as it targets to host the bigger, more important FIBA World Cup.
The key figure in the FIBA hierarchy was Hagop Khajirian, its executive director for Asia. Hagop holds the key as his imprimatur would likely convince the FIBA Asia board to approve the Philippine bid.
MVP told Barrios to look for Hagop, talk to him personally, wherever he is in the world. When they learned Hagop was in Geneva, Barrios was there in a huff, talking to the official to get a personal heads-up on the Philippine bid.
Nothing positive came out of the meeting. Hagop was non-committal. Later that month, FIBA had set a board meeting in Tokyo to decide which country would host.
Hagop was in Malaysia before the crucial FIBA meeting. Barrios again was sent there to relay MVP’s message that the FIBA first hear the country’s presentation before making a decision.
It turned out Hagop was worried about the PBA. He thought the country’s pro league would take away fans from watching the FIBA tournament. He wanted to know whether the PBA would suspend its tournament while the FIBA event was underway.
Hagop’s message was delivered to MVP who took note and probably smiled.
In Tokyo, the Philippine delegation headed by MVP strode into the hall and with them was then PBA commissioner Chito Salud.
“He was our Exhibit A,” Barrios said, and the rest is history.
FIBA awarded hosting to Lebanon but because of security concerns in the Middle East, the Philippines took over.
POSTSCRIPT:
Sonny Barrios’ story telling was not really about the FIBA Asia Cup bid, he merely cited it as an example of how MVP’s mind works when the business tycoon decides on pursuing a project. He leaves no stone unturned and hardly worries about the cost, Barrios said. MVP, he added, often works late into the night, holding meetings past midnight. “No wonder he is so successful,” he said. – Ding Marcelo
Terrafirma officially keeps C-Stan signing rights
TERRAFIRMA may have slammed the door on whatever plan Christian Standhardinger had in mind when his contract with the team expired last December.
Terrafirma has apparently dashed C-Stan's hopes of a new beginning after the team made a qualifying offer to the former Barangay Ginebra star who was dealt in a stunning trade to one of PBA's perrenial cellar dwellers last year.
By making the offer, which has not been disclosed, Terrafirma retains the PBA rights of the 6-foot-8 Fil-German who has won two Best Player of the Conference awards but reached his 35th birthday last year.
In what was viewed as a protest against the trade, Standhardinger said he does not intend to play for Terrafirma and announced his retirement.
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Apparently, Terrafirma does not believe it and SPIN.ph learned from multiple sources, that the Dyip management had made a qualifying offer to retain its signing rights on him.
The offer was made before Standhardinger's contract with Terrafirma expired last December and had been submitted to the PBA office.
"Kailangan nila gawin yun para sa rights sa kanya," said one league official.
Failure to do so on the part of Terrafirma meant losing its rights to the player who will then become an automatic free agent.
Standhardinger decided to retire from the PBA just before the start of the Commissioner's Cup.
No exact reason was given on his abrupt retirement, although a reported injury kept him from playing in the Dyip's last three outings in the season-opening Governors' Cup.
Standhardinger landed at Terrafirma along with Stanley Pringle following a stunning trade with Barangay Ginebra, which got last season's Rookie of the Year Stephen Holt and Isaac Go in return prior to the start of Season 49. - Gerry Ramos
Alas ace is on her way out
ONE of Alas Pilipinas Women’s hard-hitting stars is on her way out.
An Alas mainstay, who requested anonymity, confirmed to SPIN.ph her decision to step back from national team duties this year.
A central figure in last year’s hat-trick of bronze medals, the player, who asked not to be named, shared how she believes that this upcoming year is the best time for her to take on other opportunities within the sport.
Her planned exit is still in the works but is expected to be finalized and made public in the coming months.
“Depende pa sa magiging desisyon ng both sides, sa (mother team ko at sa PNVF),” she said.
However, this player will still have a significant presence in Philippine volleyball for 2025, albeit in a different role than what she took on last year as part of the first-ever Alas Pilipinas pool. - JM Garcia
Push for Abe King, Arnie Tuadles in 50 Greatest
THE PBA selection committee has begun discussions about who will comprise the 10 players that will be added to the Greatest list to be unveiled in the league’s 50th anniversary.
As the committee will soon conduct deliberations to determine the players, there are sentiments outside that two players from the league’s earlier years should also be shoo-ins.
The names are Abe King and Arnie Tuadles.
The two were left out in the 40 Greatest Players despite their accomplishments.
A 13-time PBA champion, King won a spot in the Mythical First Team in 1982 and lne in the Mythical Second Team in 1985. In his early years, he saw action for Toyota from 1977 to 1983. He also played for Gold Eagle in 1984, Great Taste from 1985 to 1992 before closing his career with Purefoods from 1993 to 1994.
The late Tuadles, meanwhile, was a Rookie of the Year and Mythical Five winner in 1979 for Toyota and the Mythical Second Team in 1984.
For some, including a former player who was a teammate of King, the two should already be included now.
“They will be forgotten by the next generation once another list of greatest players will be created,” the former player feared. - Reuben Terrado
adidas is new Gilas partner
ADIDAS is set to become the newest outfitter of the Gilas Pilipinas, SPIN.ph has learned on Monday.
Adidas will replace Nike after the latter's partnership with the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP} expired at the end of 2024.
The brand is expected to announce the partnership soon.
Adidas is no longer a stranger to supporting the national squad, starting with becoming the official outfitter of the Philippine women’s football team.
The brand later went all out by being the outfitter of the Philippine team to the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Will Gilas already wear the adidas gear in the coming Doha friendly matches?
We will soon find out.
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