THE stickers will stay.
That was the decision that was reached during the managers' meeting at Seda Vertis North following the Australian basketball team's unauthorized removal of the advertisment decals on the Philippine Arena floor.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Sonny Barrios said the stickers of corporate sponsors ripped off the PH Arena floor by the Aussies in practice on Sunday will be reinstated despite the concerns from the visiting team.
"The stickers will be reinstalled," Barrios said.
Players and staff from the Australian team ripped the logos of PLDT, situated at the free throw circle, and Chooks-to-Go, which were on the short corners, allegedly after players slipped during the team's closed-door practice on Sunday.
Witnesses claimed the Aussies even tried to peel off the 2019 Fiba World Cup logo at centercourt, leaving visible marks on the top paint of the hardwood.
According to Barrios, officials of Basketball Australia apologized for the incident following the managers' meeting attended by Gilas team manager Butch Antonio, deputy executive director Bernie Atienza, and legal counsel Aga Francisco.
The Aussies' 'unilateral removal of the ad stickers' drew angry reactions from SBP officials led by chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and Barrios as well as Chooks-to-Go president Ronald Mascarinas.
"Nakakalungkot. They not only disrespected the world organizing basketball body but also our home soil," said Mascarinas.
Advertisement stickers are a fixture in all Fiba-sanctioned events, with the world basketball body approving all the materials used for these decals.
The Philippines has consistently used matte stickers bearing these logos in the past staging of Fiba events in the country, especially in the last two windows of the Asian qualifiers.
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