Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Tiebreaker Times

Basketball

Butch Antonio keeping it cool despite visas still not in Gilas’ hands


With the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup just a few days away, Gilas Pilipinas players and coaches bound for Beirut, Lebanon should be all set to fly out on Sunday. But according to team manager Butch Antonio, there seems to be a problem.

“The visas are still not with us,” confirmed Antonio, Thursday night. “As a matter of fact, ka-Whatsapp ko yung taga-FIBA Asia, saying that we’re leaving Saturday and wala pa rin although we have filed this long, long, long ago.

“I am concerned na wala pa.”

Acquiring a Lebanese visa is a time-consuming process. An individual who wishes to enter the Middle Eastern country should apply for a visa a month before the travel date.Gilas-practice-0074 Butch Antonio keeping it cool despite visas still not in Gilas' hands Basketball Gilas Pilipinas News  - philippine sports news

It might sound alarming, but the amiable SBP official was quick to point out that it is that big of a deal and that everything is still under control, as the host country is doing all that they can to help the Philippine delegation.

“They say its okay, I just don’t have the actual one,” he said. “It’s a piece of paper, hindi naman yung naka-stamp sa passport. Kaya pwede yung sinasabi nila na it’s okay already — it’s just a matter of us receiving it and printing it out.

“Okay naman yung Lebanon, they’ve been very cooperative.”

#ReadMore  Andray Blatche arrives, set to make Gilas return
Written By

Oftentimes on the sidelines. Forever a student of the game. Morayta-bred.


You May Also Like

2023 FIBA World Cup

Nine years after the iconic ‘Puso to the Max’ campaign by Gilas Pilipinas and Max’s Group, the partnership makes a comeback just in time...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Gilas Pilipinas will not have their big man for the final tournament they will figure in before the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Kai...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Just as Gilas have done over this cycle, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas will try out a new head coach for this window of...

2021 SEA Games

This is a crucial week for Gilas Pilipinas in terms of securing the services of Japeth Aguilar for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in...

2021 SEA Games

Gilas Pilipinas will name its final 12-man roster before flying to Hanoi, Vietnam for the much-anticipated 31st Southeast Asian Games set next month. Team...

2021 SEA Games

The champion of PBA 3×3’s inaugural conference also gets a shot at national glory. Besides discussing the schedule of Gilas Men for the rest...

2021 SEA Games

Two days after its campaign in the 2023 FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas went to the Philippine Basketball Association’s...

2023 FIBA World Cup

Troy Rosario and Roger Pogoy are in the Big Dome bubble. Gilas team manager Butch Antonio confirmed to Tiebreaker Times that the two players...

Advertisement