PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial pushed back against suggestions that the league failed to provide enough support to Gilas Pilipinas, recounting how he personally helped with even the most mundane tasks during the national team’s stay in Japan.
Speaking before the Senate Committee on Sports during its post-evaluation hearing on the Philippines’ Asian Games campaign on Thursday, Marcial said the PBA had consistently provided whatever assistance was requested by the national team.
“Mr. Chairman, from day one sinasabi po namin ng PBA and in behalf of the board, all-out support po ang PBA… players, ball boy, referees, technical committee, pati po ako kumisyuner sumasama na po ako doon,” Marcial said.
He then offered an anecdote to illustrate the extent of the league’s support during Gilas’ stint in Japan.
“Kung alam niyo nung huli, itong sa Japan, ako po naging labandero ng mga players para magkaisa-isa lang po. Si Alfrancis Chua naghahanap ng restaurant, ako labandero… pero ano naman po ‘yun, ‘yung sa nilalagyan ng coins… pero kahit ano po, all-out support po. Kahit ano po ang hingin ng SBP, ibinibigay po ng PBA,” he said.
Marcial also assured the senators that funding and accommodation were not issues for the men’s national team.
“Walang problema po sa basketball kasi suportado po kami… naka-hotel po kami in advance. So walang problema po sa funding sa men’s basketball,” he said.
Gilas head coach Tim Cone, meanwhile, explained that the team’s inability to field its strongest possible lineup was largely influenced by player availability and international regulations.
Cone said building the best possible national team is crucial in international competition, but the Philippines could not compel players’ foreign clubs to release them for the Asian Games.
He explained that FIBA’s mandatory player-release rules apply to official FIBA competitions, but not to events such as the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games.
That became a major issue for several Filipino players based in Japan and South Korea including Kai Sotto, AJ Edu, Dwight Ramos, Carl Tamayo and Kevin Quiambao.
Cone compared these players to overseas Filipino workers who pursue better professional opportunities abroad, making their availability dependent on their respective club contracts.
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go also raised the case of Ramos, who was seen playing in Manila during the Asian Games. Cone explained that Ramos’ Japanese club had only traveled to the Philippines for preseason exhibition games and did not release him for national team duty.
For Cone, the situation is part of the reality facing a national program whose best players increasingly have opportunities outside the PBA and the Philippines. (Adrian Co)
