Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Sonny Barrios expects an overflow crowd for the FIBA Olympic Qualifiers in July.
Set to take place at the Mall of Asia Arena on July 5-10, the Olympic Qualifiers represent the final chance for eighteen nations in a quest to secure one berth in the Rio Games later this year.
The former PBA Commissioner notes that plans are being made for closed-circuit coverage in movie theaters, as well as giant screens to be placed in town plazas or open parking lots, as a means to make these games more accessible to a wider audience.
The Philippines won a bid to host one of the three tournaments, and Barrios counts on home court advantage to be a factor that could put Gilas over the top, acknowledging the stiff competition they are to face on the court. He adds, "At the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships, we saw how our team was inspired by the homecrowd. For the first time in FIBA history, we witnessed the wave. No one was surprised when at the FIBA World Cup in 2014, the Philippines was named the country with the Most Valuable Fans."
The last time the Philippines made it to the Olympics was in 1972, while the last time they participated in a qualifier for men's basketball was in 1964.
Set to take place at the Mall of Asia Arena on July 5-10, the Olympic Qualifiers represent the final chance for eighteen nations in a quest to secure one berth in the Rio Games later this year.
The former PBA Commissioner notes that plans are being made for closed-circuit coverage in movie theaters, as well as giant screens to be placed in town plazas or open parking lots, as a means to make these games more accessible to a wider audience.
The Philippines won a bid to host one of the three tournaments, and Barrios counts on home court advantage to be a factor that could put Gilas over the top, acknowledging the stiff competition they are to face on the court. He adds, "At the 2013 FIBA Asia Championships, we saw how our team was inspired by the homecrowd. For the first time in FIBA history, we witnessed the wave. No one was surprised when at the FIBA World Cup in 2014, the Philippines was named the country with the Most Valuable Fans."
The last time the Philippines made it to the Olympics was in 1972, while the last time they participated in a qualifier for men's basketball was in 1964.
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