FIBA-ASIA MANILA CAGEFEST LOGO UNVEILED
The event logo of the FIBA Asia Men’s Basketball Championship which the Philippines is hosting for the first time in 40 years this coming August was unveiled Sunday with the hope of inspiring Filipinos to rally behind their national cagers.
The logo, showing a basketball made up as a sun with five golden rays with the all-capitalized word “Pilipinas” in blue and the tournament, plus its date under it, was formally shown to the public at the halftime of Sunday’s Barangay GInebra-Talk ‘N Text game at the MOA Arena and in a press conference at the media room an hour earlier.
According to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc. Vice-Chairman Ricky Vargas saying SBP chief Manny V. Pangilinan having a direct hand in its inception and consummation.
“Mr. Pangilinan really wanted to show our nationalism in the logo, so it has the sun inspired by that in our national flag. And since it is about basketball, the sun became a basketball,” related Vargas. “He really reviewed the product and it also represents the reason why we made a strong bid to host the FIBA-Asia.”
Also present during the unveiling were SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios, MVP Sports Foundation head Al Panlilio, PBA Commissioner Chito Salud, Solar chief Wilson Tieng and national coach Chot Reyes.
The 16-team event marks the first time since 1973 that the Philippines is hosting it and Vargas said all the parties concerned are making sure no stone is left unturned to make it a resounding success.
“From the start the PBA has lent its support to the SBP and the MVP Group. From the lending of players, making them available for practices, the format of the league has been tweaked to give more time for Coach Chot to form his team, some of our employees, especially technical people, have been assigned to the SBP for their use,” said Salud.
“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it agan. It is with great pride and anticipation that the PBA will be joining the MVP Group, standing with it side by side, in hosting the best-ever FIBA-Asia here.”
“Ang responsibility namin to bring the game to your homes, offices. Malaking katungkulan din iyan,” said Tieng, whose company will be joining hands with TV5 in broadcasting all of the tournament’s 48 games.
“Gusto din naming maging coverage namin is the best we can do for our Filipino audience.”
Reyes, who leads Sports 5, said the event is an opportunity to show the rest of Asia how a television coverage of a basketball game is done here.
“We’re very excited to show Asia a real professional sports coverage, the way we do it, basketball in particular.”
The top three finishers in the tournament advance to the Worlds next year in Spain. (NC)
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