FIBA Asia delay leaves Philippines without a team for Champions’ Cup

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The Philippines won’t be sending a team to the FIBA Asia Champions’ Cup, the governing body’s top club competition slated on October 13 to 21 in Beirut, Lebanon.

But the reason for the lack of participation is not a boycott, but rather, a problem with communication involving FIBA Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios had earlier sought clarification with Khajirian about which team had the right to represent the country in the club competition, but received a reply when it was already too late to form a team.

“I received a letter from Noli Eala last July 15 and he told me that San Miguel Beer should be the one representing the country in the FIBA Asia Champions’ Cup,” said Barrios. The San Miguel Beermen finished second in the ASEAN Basketball League, the successor to the SEABA Champions’ Cup.

“But I sought clarification from Mr. Hagop because based on the FIBA Asia internal regulations, the top three teams of the recent tournament, excluding the host, are qualified to join the tournament. So that means SMART-Gilas, which finished fourth in the tournament we hosted last year, can also qualify.”

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