PBL offers to represent country in 2009 SEA Games

MANILA, Oct. 11 (PNA) – The Philippine Basketball League (PBL) vowed to bring home two gold medals if given a chance to represent the country in the 2009 Laos Southeast Asian Games.

“We’re again offering the services of the PBL and Harbour Center for a national cause. We’re ready to spearhead the country’s double gold bid in next year’s SEA Games,” PBL chairman and Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero said during Friday’s SCOOP session at the Kamayan restaurant in Padre Faura, Manila.

The basketball is not yet included in 22 sports discipline calendared by host Laos for the 26th SEAG but several countries including the Philippines have already lobbied for the inclusion of the sport of the three remaining slots.

Represented by PBL and Harbour Centre, the Philippines won the gold medal in the men’s basketball while the women’s bagged the bronze in the 2007 SEA Games held in Thailand.

The PBL offered to form women’s national team after it announced early this week the creation of women’s league in the country’s premier amateur league.

“We want to help our women’s team in our own little way. I think we saw in Thailand the potential of our women’s team. With a little more support, we will be able to win also the gold in the women’s basketball,” PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad said.

Romero said a total of P25 million was spent to finance the men’s SEA Games campaign last year. With the possible addition of the women’s team, an additional P10 to P15 million will be needed to fund the entire basketball undertaking.

He also remains confident on basketball being approved by the SEA Games organizers as part of their 2009 calendar.

“A lot of countries are lobbying for basketball to be played in the SEA Games, including Thailand because there are the defending champion in the women’s division,” Romero said.

Romero said he favors the same coaching staff of Junel Baculi and assistant Louie Alas to handle the team, but Trinidad stressed that should the BAP-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas would recommend somebody else, then they would readily abide by it.