MVP thanks PBA board for Gilas support

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan expressed his gratitude to the PBA board for making available 17 of the league’s top professional players for Gilas Pilipinas, which will be competing for the Olympic qualifying tournament in July 2016.

“We welcome the assistance of the PBA and thank the PBA Board for its support. SBP will forthwith file with FIBA, through the Philippine Olympic Committee, the requisite Registration Form, indicating our intention to participate,” Pangilinan said in an official statement released to media outlets on Thursday.

The 69-year-old Pangilinan, Talk ‘N Text’s board governor, was not around when the pro league’s board released to the public the names of the 17 PBA players to the national pool in a special emergency meeting.

But the man simply known in the sports and business circles by his initials MVP said he was advised on Wednesday regarding the PBA board’s move.

“I was advised about the resolution adopted yesterday by the PBA board in its special meeting held also yesterday, the Philippines' participation in the Fiba Wild Card Qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics,” he added.

Two-time league most valuable player June Mar Fajardo and Barangay Ginebra star center Greg Slaughter heads the cast of the 17-man national pool, which will be handled by Gilas coach Tab Baldwin.

Other members in the pool include LA Tenorio, Ian Sangalang, Japeth Aguilar and Marcio Lassiter, who all play in the teams owned by MVP’s rival group San Miguel Corp.

Included also in the list are Rain or Shine gunners Paul Lee and Jeff Chan and Talk ‘N Text defense specialist Ryan Reyes.

Meantime, the holdovers from the silvermedal Gilas 3.0 national team in the recent FIBA Asia men’s championships in Changsha are Marc Pingris, Matt Ganuelas Rosser, Troy Rosario, Calvin Abueva, Gabe Norwood, Ranidel de Ocampo, Jayson Castro and Terrence Romeo.

The preparation of the 17-man national pool for the Olympic qualifiers begin next month with its Monday practices, before intensifying the training in June when the PBA takes a break from competition to give way for Gilas.

By January, the SBP is set to name the 12 players, along with the naturalized player. The remaining five players will be considered alternates in case injuries arise. —