SEA Games: SBP leader not dropping desire

MANILA, Philippines – The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is not losing its wish that basketball competitions inside the 30th Southeast Asian Games could be staged in a venue that could accommodate more fanatics. Al Panlilio, SBP president, stays optimistic that organizers of this 12 months’ SEA Games will find a way to give the basketball games how they ought to be. Or at the least, the video games featuring the house crew. “The SBP hopes all the Gilas Pilipinas games are in a bigger venue. Other games can live at Filoil,” Panlilio told The STAR Friday. Panlilio responded after Philippine SEA Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc) government director Ramon Suzara said negotiations with the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena to host the games have slowed. Suzara stated Phisgoc attempted everything but wasn’t comfortable with either of the two venues with a minimum seating ability of 15,000. The Filoil Center can handiest accommodate 5,500 fans at maximum. However, a completely reliable supply advised The STAR Friday that the MOA Arena is returned at the negotiating table, and a deal may still not be reached. Sports officials keep their palms crossed that basketball video games in the SEA Games are held in a bigger, fan-pleasant venue. Suzara introduced the ultimate Thursday that the Smart Araneta Coliseum and MOA Arena couldn’t commit to a website hosting the SEA Games because of different commitments.

“They couldn’t provide us the complete dates,” said Suzara. He did now not say, however, if either venue could not forget the website hosting the video games as soon as it receives the semis or the finals. Suzara, who helped create the SEA Games website hosting plan, stated that Phisgoc opened talks with the Araneta Coliseum and MOA Arena as early as May final year. It regarded that the two giant venues have had prior commitments, forcing Phisgoc to search for an alternate venue — in this case, the Filoil Center in San Juan.