[GOOD NEWS] It’s official! Philippines to host 2013 Fiba Asia Championship! - PINOYDEN

The Philippines won the rights to host the 2013 FIBA Asia
Championship set on August 1 to 13.

No less than Samahang
Basketbol ng Pilipinas
president Manuel V. Pangilinan made the announcement in a text message circulated
Thursday evening.

FIBA Asia had earlier awarded
hosting rights to the event to
Lebanon, but tensions in the
region forced the regional
cage body to look for other
options.

“Unfortunately, the current
situation in the region and the on-going civil war in Syria, which has its indirect effect on the countries in the whole of West Asia, especially on Lebanon, creates doubts about the stability that we might
not have, at least, till the fixed dates of our event,” FIBA Asia secretary-general Hagop Khajirian told the FIBA Asia website.

“In view of these facts, FIBA Asia Executive Committee
decided to change the venue of the 27th FIBA Asia
Championship from Beirut-
Lebanon to Manila-Philippines.”

Last September, Pangilinan led a delegation of SBP officials to make a comprehensive presentation before the FIBA Asia board in Japan to
convince the Philippines’ fitness to host the
tournament. The cage body,
however, decided to go with
Lebanon, but noted the
Philippines would be next in
line should the original choice prove to be unfit.

The FIBA Asia Championship
serves as qualifier for the 2014 FIBA World Cup. The SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team coached by Chot Reyes will represent the country in the competition.