PBL, Harbour renew partnership for ’09 SEA Games

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Basketball League (PBL) and Harbour Centre renew their successful partnership when the country competes in next year’s Southeast Asian Games. PBL and Harbour Centre will once again form, train and bankroll the Philippine campaign in men’s and women’s basketball competitions when Laos hosts for the first time the 25th edition of the biennial meet. PBL commissioner Chino Trinidad and new league chairman and Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero, whose successful partnership resulted to a men’s gold and a bronze for the women’s in the 2007 SEAG, this time vowed the country will be a double gold medalist in next year’s basketball competitions. Trinidad and Romero’s promise, however, remains hanging since Laos SEAG officials are still uncertain whether or not to include basketball in the regular sporting program for the 2009 edition. Several countries, including the Philippines and Thailand, are lobbying for the inclusion of basketball in the 2009 “We’re again offering the services of the PBL and Harbour Center for a national cause. We’re ready to spearhead the country’s double gold bid in next year’s SEA Games," said Romero, who joined Trinidad and Harbour Centre team manager Eric Arejola in the weekly SCOOP session on Friday at the Kamayan Restaurant in Padre Faura, Manila. PBL and Harbour Centre prepared and funded the national men’s basketball campaign in the SEA Games in 2007 in Nakhonratchasima in Thailand. Junel Baculi coached the Philippine men’s team, which was led by two-time PBL most valuable player (MVP) Jason Castro and top PBA rookie pick Gabe Norwood. The Philippines, which won with an average winning margin of 42 points, completed a four-game sweep to earn the gold. The PBL-Harbour partnership will now include the women’s team with Trinidad expressing confidence that a little support the female cagers can be at par or beat the likes of powerhouse Thailand and Malaysia. The women’s team, bannered by Fil-Am Vicky Brick, won the bronze in the Thailand SEA Games the country’s highest finish since winning the silver medal in 1995. Romero spent P25 million to finance the men’s campaign last year. An additional P10 to P15 million will be needed to fund the women’s team. Romero is also optimistic basketball will be included in the 2009 events. “A lot of countries are lobbying for basketball to be played in the SEA Games. Kasama na siyempre ang Thailand diyan because malakas nga yung women’s team nila (That includes Thailand because they have a strong women’s team)." Members of the team will be known middle of the PBL season. “We want the best available talent to reinforce the team," said Romero. Romero added that he still wants Baculi and assistant coach Louie Alas to continue handling the team but Trinidad said that should the Basketball Association of the Philippines-Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas would recommend somebody else, then they would readily abide by it. – GMANews.TV