PHILIPPINE Asian Games chef de mission Richard Gomez is still hoping the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will change its mind and send a men’s basketball team in the quadrennial showpiece.
Speaking at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday, Gomez said the SBP can still send a team since the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) has yet to send a formal communication to the Indonesia Asian Games Organizing Committee (Inasgoc) about the pullout of the men’s basketball team.
“Puwede pa kasi hindi pa tayo official na nagpapadala ng withdrawal sa Asian Games. Nasa level pa lang natin,” Gomez said. “Pero as far as they are concerned, accredited pa ‘yung basketball team natin.”
If he is to be asked, Gomez hopes the leadership of SBP led by Al Panlilio will eventually send a basketball team.
“Definitely,” said Gomez, when asked if he favors sending the basketball team. “In fact, I watched the interview sa mga governors ng PBA. Sila mismo, nagtataka kung bakit hindi magpapadala ng team.
"Ituloy na lang. Ang number one sport natin, basketball eh. Maraming nag-aabang, win or lose, na panoorin ‘yung basketball team," he added. “I’m hoping that Al Panlilio will change his mind and magpadala sila.”
Gomez, who is the president of the fencing federation in the Philippines, however, hopes SBP can act quickly as the POC will formally withdraw the basketball team in the delegation registration meeting on August 9 in Jakarta.
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