Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino stated that he had cautioned the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) about the deadline for submitting the Gilas Pilipinas roster for the 19th Asian Games.
Tolentino said he reached out to the SBP multiple times for the provisional lineup, recognizing that they may have been focused on hosting the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
“I’ll be frank. Maybe they were too busy during the World Cup. I have told them that the Asian Games are the Olympics of Asia. We cannot belittle the Asian Games,” Tolentino said in an interview with One PH’s Power and Play program on Saturday.
“So we need to send the best. We have notices, deadlines, and long lists, and we repeatedly tell them. But, you know, as Filipinos, it was last minute,” he added.
Gilas Pilipinas faced roster problems ahead of the Asiad as the Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee refused to grant the substitution of Calvin Abueva, Terrence Romeo, Moala Tautuaa, and Jason Perkins into the 12-man roster due to their absence from the POC’s provisional rosters.
Tolentino noted that the HAGOC “officially rejected” the POC’s appeal regarding these players but mentioned that he will continue appealing until Gilas opens their Asiad campaign on Tuesday.
“Yes, it has been officially declined. That is why, even if they decline it 1,000 times, I will appeal 1,000 times more,” Tolentino said. “Even if they reject us 1,000 times, I will push for 1,000 more.”
“I do not care if the HAGOC rejects and rejects; I will appeal until the games have officially started,” he added.
