Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said that FIBA is looking to stage the 2021 Asia Cup Qualifiers’ third window in Clark on June 14-20, although he insisted that nothing is cast in stone yet.
“Ang tinitignan nila June 14 to 20.
“Sa ngayon, ‘yan ang tentative. Hindi pa sila naglalabas ng official release, pero ‘yun ang tinitignan sa ngayon,” he told Power & Play.
The SBP regained the hosting rights of the said meet after initially backing out last January due to the country’s travel restrictions brought upon by the ongoing pandemic. The tilt was originally set to take place from Feb. 18-23.
FIBA was fortunate enough to find a new host shortly after in Doha, until Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health ordered to cancel all events to be hosted there due to the increasing COVID-19 cases in the country.
Now, the SBP is communicating yet again with the authorities, particularly the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-IED), regarding the staging of the window.
Barrios said that the federation is set to present what was supposed to be their plan of action had the hosting pushed through this March.
And so far, they have been receiving positive feedback from the powers that be, especially IATF deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon, who was among those who helped the PBA successfully hold a bubble last year also in Clark.
“Actually, ire-revive lang natin ‘yung sana March hosting pero na-push back nga to June. ‘Yung office naman ni Sec. Vince, very positive, very supportive ba mag-host tayo sa June,” said the former PBA commissioner.
Another good news for the SBP, according to Barrios, is that their partners in this project remain as supportive as before.
“Pasalamat na lang hindi nadadala yung mga kausap natin dahil dalawang postponement na yung dinaanan natin,” he said while beamimg. “Pero nakakataba ng puso na lahat sila e very supportive sa atin.
“After all national hosting [naman ito] hindi lang SBP. Ang mga hotel, venue, and other so-called stakeholders are behind us. Inaano lang natin ulit, nirerepaso lang yung mga pinagusapan dati.”
