FIBA OQT updates

SAMAHANG Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios, 2nd left, pays a courtesy call to President-elect Rody Duterte, center, in Davao City yesterday to personally hand the formal invitation of SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan to the incoming Chief Executive for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Manila in July. Also present, from left, are SBP board member and regional director Boy Cua, SBP legal consultant Edgar Francisco and Mayor Duterte’s executive assistant Christopher ‘Bong’ Go, right.

What do we know as of late:

1. Tickets for the individual days have been made available to the public. Since it is held at the MOA Arena, SM Tickets is handling distribution.

2. Rosters are slowly taking shape. The Gilas bracket of the FIBA OQT tournament already providing some clarity with the final rosters, as both France and New Zealand whittled down their lineups to 17 and 14, respectively. 

3. Gilas also made a couple of cut-downs, as Greg Slaughter and Matt Ganuelas-Rosser both had to bow out due to injuries.

4. Due to personal matters, Andray Blatche's presence won't be made until next week at the earliest.