Harris, Nolasco lead Philippine participation in BWB Asia 2022

Five Filipinos made the cut for the 12th edition of the Basketball Without Borders Asia Cup, which will take place from August 7-10 at the NBA Global Academy inside the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra.

Representing the country are L.A. John Andres, Jared Bahay, and Caelum Emmanuel Harris for the boys, and Dianne Camille Nolasco and Quinn Kacey Dela Rosa for the girls. Harris and Bahay recently were called up for Gilas Youth duty in the FIBA Asia U16 back in June, with Nolasco receiving a similar call-up as well for Gilas Women, also for the FIBA Asia U16 Women Division B. Nolasco also is an alumna of the Jr. NBA Philippines program.

It is the first time the camp, which is a collaborative effort in global basketball development and community outreach between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), since the 2019 edition in Japan, and the first in Australia since 2016 in Melbourne. Select U-18 boys and girls from the region get the invite and will receive quality knowledge transfer from current and former NBA, WNBA, and FIBA players and coaches, whilst also being pushed by their peers during the camp.

For BWB Asia 2022, NBA All-Star Jarrett Allen of the Cleveland Cavaliers leads the NBA players serving as coaches, with Cameron Johnson of the Phoenix Suns and Coby White of the Chicago Bulls joining camp alumnus (BWB Global 2018), Aussie native and Dallas Mavericks guard Josh Green.

Helping out the players are former Opals Kristi Harrower, Annie La Fleur, and Jenni Screen, alongside current NBA assistants Damian Cotter of the Chicago Bulls, David Akinyooye of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Eric Glass of the Miami Heat, as well as Adam Tatalovich, who is both an international scout with the New York Knicks and an assistant with the Serbia men's national team.

Overseeing the camp is World Association of Basketball Coaches president Patrick Hunt, with Dan Shimensky serving as the athletic trainer.

Among the activities taking place during the camp are movement efficiency drills, offensive and defensive skill stations, a three-point contest, five-on-five scrimmages, and just as important, life skills and leadership development sessions. The final day of the event will have an awarding ceremony for outstanding participants both on-court and in showcasing leadership qualities, where the MVP, Defensive MVP, Three-Point Champion, and the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award will be named.

The BWB program includes some of the best international players of the NBA, with 41 out of the 121 players last season being alumni, including this past season's All-Rookie Second Team member Josh Giddey (BWB Asia 2018 and BWB Global 2020, also a NBA Global Academy grad), and former NBA All-Rookie Second Team honoree Rui Hachimura (BWB Global 2016). Over 3,800 players from 133 countries and territories have participated the 64 BWB camps that have taken place since its launch in 2001, with 105 alumni getting a taste of top-flight professional basketball in the NBA and WNBA.

Supporting BWB Asia 2022 is Nike, which serves the official outfitter and footwear provider, and Gatorade, which acts as the program's hydration partner.

SBP recommits itself towards FIBA World Cup

Representing the Board of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

Monday proved to be a hectic day for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, with the members of its board gathering to recommit themselves towards the 2023 edition of the FIBA World Cup, which the country is co-hosting alongside Japan and Indonesia this coming August 25 to September 10, 2023.

With Chairman Sonny Angara overseeing things, President Al Panlilio presented the plans for the staging and mounting of the quadrennial event, with the latter noting, "Showcasing the Philippines, this will be the biggest basketball event to be hosted in the country. Since 1978, we have not hosted a tournament of this magnitude."

A local organizing committee has been tasked to oversee preparations, with forty games to be played at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the qualifiers, with twelve games being played at the Philippine Arena.

There will also be activations that will take place in the runup to the World Cup, with the One Year to Go and Tissot Countdown Clock Launch on August 27 and the World Cup Draw this coming April. In addition, there will be a separate activities to unveil the official ball and the Opening Ceremonies.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach and Technical Director Chot Reyes was also present in the meeting and presented his roadmap for the squad heading into the tournament. The TNT Tropang Giga head coach  identified the best players from the various leagues here and abroad, with the idea of showing their readiness to impress in the World Cup.

With the Philippines having lost in the final of the SEA Games, not being able to make the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup, and only managing two wins in the previous round of qualifying, Gilas seeks to make amends to ensure a better showing as World Cup hosts. Reclaiming the gold in the SEA Games and a better showing in the upcoming windows in qualifying has been pegged by Reyes as an essential element for Gilas' preparations.

Local leagues have also committed to doing their share, led by the Philippine Basketball Association.

The oldest professional league in Asia is deviating from its normal schedule to ensure Gilas Pilipinas' readiness. The league will only have two conferences instead of their customary three, to ensure the national team will have ample time to build chemistry and familiarity

The two most prominent collegiate leagues in the country, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), have committed to make sure student-athletes called up for national team duty will be made available when needed.

The SBP has also tapped Tim Cone and Goldwin Monteverde to join Reyes alongside Jong Uichico and Nenad Vucinic as assistant coaches.

"We only have 389 days from the actual tip-off and I do appeal to all the stakeholders in basketball to come together and really unify in this effort," said Panlilio.

TAP secures Qatar World Cup broadcast rights

Coming to TAP DMV (graphic via FIFA)

Filipino football fans will be able to quench their thirst for world-class football thanks to TAP Digital Media Ventures (TAP), as they secured full media rights to the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

TAP made that announcement on Thursday, with the plan to funnel the event onto a new pay-per-view channel called World Cup TV (WC TV).

As one of FIFA's official broadcasters, TAP will broadcast ALL of the games of the competition, as well as its accompanying content.

Gonzalo de Guia, TAP DMV's Chief Technology Officer, shares, "That’s all 64 matches involving 32 nations from the group stages to the knockout stages including the Round of 16, the Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Finals, will be broadcast live on World Cup TV including all player and coach pre and post-game interviews, match highlights, off-pitch special features as well as replays.  We are very excited to be able to air one of the world’s most popular events involving the global game."

As for Group Stage matches that will have simultaneous kickoff, TAP is expected to showcase both matches, with those using the TAPGo app earning the ability to switch between the games. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, one of the world’s greatest sporting events is coming to the Philippines via WC TV.

At just PhP 1999, football fans in the Philippines will have the chance to partake of WC TV when it is unveiled this coming November, with the channel then serving as part of TAP platform of showing top-tier sports coverage once the World Cup is over.

TAP will reveal more details about WC TV in the next few months through their official Facebook page.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas seeking unity amongst stakeholders

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas released this statement on Friday, their first Gilas Pilipinas missed out on the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup for the first time since 2007.

SBP president Al Panlilio yesterday called on the country’s basketball stakeholders to come together in supporting the Gilas national team with the goal of forming a competitive squad for the FIBA World Cup next year.

Panlilio said Gilas’ performance in the FIBA Asia Cup here was a disappointment as the ninth place finish was the Philippines’ worst in 13 years.  He said lack of training time and player availability are issues that must be addressed with three FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying windows lined up for August, November and February, the SEA Games in Cambodia on May 5-16 and the World Cup on Aug. 25-Sept. 10 next year.

Gilas head coach Chot Reyes had no excuses for the dismal showing but said the outcome could’ve been different if top scorer Dwight Ramos and naturalized player Ange Kouame suited up.  He said the team began practice last July 6, a week before the Philippines’ first game against Lebanon and Poy Erram, the only active PBA player on the roster, attended only thrice.  Any coach would’ve backed off from the challenge but Reyes chose to play the cards he was dealt with in keeping his commitment to the country and SBP.

“As FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis mentioned, it’s been nearly 25 years since Greece hosted a world basketball event,” said Panlilio.  “We really have to give it full support from all basketball stakeholders.”  PBA chairman Ricky Vargas said, “The World Cup will never happen again in Manila in our lifetime … it took 45 years to bring the World Cup back to Manila … dapat laban na, all out … we need the best to play and be allowed to play … we call on all stakeholders to unite for flag and country.”

SBP has scheduled a general meeting of stakeholders on Aug. 1 and will lay out the timetable in the run-up to the World Cup.  Panlilio said FIBA will assist in securing clearance for Gilas players from foreign leagues.  The PBA will play only two conferences next year and clear its calendar starting in May up to the end of the World Cup.  Drafting players for the three coming windows, however, is a concern.  Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson is sure to play in the World Cup and will likely join Gilas in the fourth window against Lebanon in Beirut on Aug. 25 and Saudi Arabia at the MOA Arena on Aug. 29 but won’t be available for the two other windows and the SEA Games.  SBP will reach out to Kai Sotto for the three windows, SEA Games and the World Cup.

The PBA Philippine Cup finals will begin on Aug. 21 so players from the 10 eliminated teams may be recruited for Gilas to play in the fourth window with Clarkson.  In the fifth window against Jordan and Saudi Arabia on the road in November, the NBA, PBA, UAAP, NCAA and foreign leagues will be in season, making it difficult to assemble a fighting team.  In the sixth window, players from UAAP and NCAA will be available but not from the PBA.  Panlilio said the time for leagues to sacrifice and adjust schedules with Gilas in mind is now as the World Cup is only a year away.

Thailand, Philippines set up AFF Women's Championship final

Sarina Bolden and the rest of the Filipinas slain their Goliath

The Philippines stunned defending champions Vietnam, 4-0, last night to reach the AFF Women’s Championship 2022 final for the first time in front of a delighted home crowd at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Bucking the odds and history, the Filipinas came through with a dominant performance from start to finish in booting Vietnam out of title contention, and to set up a title showdown and rematch with Thailand on Sunday.

In the other semifinal encounter, Thailand played patient and clinical football in subduing Myanmar, 2-0, in securing their seventh finals appearance for the biggest prize in Southeast Asian women’s football.

Vietnam will try to salvage some pride when it plays Myanmar for third place preceding the championship match.

Closely marked in the first 45 minutes Sarina Bolden scored a brace in the second half while veteran defender Hali Long and skipper Tahnai Annis added a goal each as the hosts fashioned the milestone win in front of around 3,000-plus fans, among them former Azkals team captain Stephan Schrock.

The hosts broke a nine-match jinx against the visitors, including a 1-2 setback in the group stage of the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam last May.

“I believe we came through with a complete performance. They are still the best team in Southeast Asia and just because we beat them tonight doesn’t mean they’re not. I believe we could have scored more goals. It shows the professionalism of this team,” noted Filipinas coach Alen Stajcic.

“We’ll enjoy this win in the meantime then perhaps look forward to revenge on Sunday,” added the Australian tactician in recalling the close 1-0 group stage loss to Thailand three days ago.

Before the crunch Philippines-Vietnam match, Thailand head coach Miya Okamoto remained non-committal at the post-match conference about Sunday’s championship match.

“We will always play the way that we always do, stick to our game and if we win, it will be a great souvenir for the players,” Okamoto said.

Inspired by the lively Filipino gallery, the Filipinas pressed the attack and were rewarded for their efforts through Long, who came rushing to the front to score a sharp header from Annis’s right corner kick that gave them a 1-0 halftime lead.

Annis then got into act, coolly converting a penalty kick in the 50th minute on defender Hoang Thi Loan’s handball violation inside the penalty area.

The Filipina captain then had another corner kick from the right corner anew, setting up the opportunistic header in the 62nd minute before calling it a night a few minutes later as she was replaced by Jessica Miclat.

Bolden then delivered the coup de grace with another header in the 70th minute off a short feed by Quinley Quezada to cap the home squad’s historic night.

Striker Kanyanat Chettabutr scored the icebreaker in the 43rd minute from a short pass by Jiraporn Mongkoldee, the ball slipping behind goalie May Zwin Nwe, bouncing off the left goal post and into the net to give Thailand a 1-0 halftime lead.

Barely minutes after subbing for Mongkoldee, Saowalak Pengman created instant offense in the 83rd minute, outsmarting two defenders in casually slotting in the second marker past a frustrated May.

Health protocols force Philippines-Japan exhibition cancellation

Just as the world is close to returning to normalcy, there are still reminders that the pandemic is still prevalent.

Health and safety protocols have forced the cancellation of the exhibition men's volleyball match slated on Thursday, June 16, between Japan and the Philippines.

Called the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) International Challenge, it is a side event slated to take place at the Filoil Flying V Centre alongside the ongoing Volleyball Nations League at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum.

The NSA expressed their sincerest apologies to fans excited for the match with its sudden cancellation.

TicketNet is expected to make a corresponding announcement regarding refunds for those who made purchases for the cancelled match.

The Philippines is slated to have one more men's exhibition scheduled, against Germany on June 27 at 4pm. The women's exhibition netted straight sets losses for the Philippines against Thailand and Japan last week.

FIBA Basketball World Cup mascot unveiled

Get the chance to name the 2023 FIBA World Cup mascot

FIBA on late Thursday unveiled the mascot for the 2023 edition of the World Cup, one that has yet to be named.

The mascot is an offshoot of the shared vision between the three host countries: the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Three young fans from the host countries: Caloy (Philippines), Kota (Japan), and Dewi (Indonesia), met online and collaborated on a design that would represent the three hosts while also unite basketball fans worldwide.

The mascot is a robot programmed to be fun, friendly, and sporty. Armed with terrific dribbling skills and a supersonic dunk, it is set to promote next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup worldwide while sharing its love for basketball towards as many people as possible. Its face is an LED screen which would allow it to communicate in different languages, whilst being adorned by the colors of the hosts' flags.

At the same time, the mascot is geared towards environmental awareness, particularly about recycling, thanks to the hoop attached at the back of its head.

In a move to elicit fan participation, FIBA is having a naming competition for the mascot until June 30, with an official Molten ball up for grabs for the lucky winner. Once named, the mascot will travel across the three host nations to build up more attention for the competition.

Richard Carrion, Chairman of the Joint Management Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 said: "This FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be a unique event, hosted for the first time by three nations, and we wanted a brand new concept for the mascot, not only to celebrate and entertain but also to carry a very important message in today's world."