Malacañan Palace
8 August 2013

President Benigno S. Aquino III received a Pilipinas Team jacket from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc. (SBP) President Manuel V. Pangilinan as the latter accompanied the officials of Fédération Internationale de Basketball Amateur (FIBA) who paid a courtesy call to the President in Malacañang.

According to Pangilinan, the FIBA officials expressed their satisfaction with the Philippines’ hosting of the qualifiers for the World Cup, which will be held in Spain in 2014. He added that they felt honored to be here in the country.

This is the third time that the Philippines is hosting the Asian qualifying tournament for FIBA World Championship which takes place every two years. The country already bagged five (5) championship medals so far (1960, 1963, 1967, 1973, and 1985) and ranks number two (2) among thirty (30) participating countries in terms of the number of acquired gold medals.

Meanwhile, Smart Gilas Pilipinas or the Philippine national basketball team defeated the Hong Kong squad on August 7 with a final score of 67-55. Their victory guaranteed them to join the quarterfinals which will commence on August 9.

Among the federation officials who paid a courtesy call are FIBA President Yvan Mainini, FIBA Asia President Sheik Saud Bin Ali Al-Thani and FIBA Secretary General Hagop Khajirian. Together with Pangilinan are SBP Vice President Victorico Vargas, Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation President Alfredo Panlilio, and SBP Executive Director and Local Organizing Committee (LOC) CEO Renauld Barrios.

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