Hosts display Pinoy culture in FIBA-Asia Champions Cup opening

Philippine culture was in full display during the opening ceremony of the 2011 FIBA-Asia Champions Cup Friday night at the Meralco multi-purpose hall in Pasig City. The foreign teams were served a wide array of Filipino dishes and entertained by Filipino folk dances. Basketball is another part of the Filipino culture that's why FIBA-Asia president Sheikh Saud bin Al Al-Thani is confident that the Philippines can successfully host the tournament. Al-Thani was joined in the press conference by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Manny V. Pangilinan, vice chairman Ricky Vargas and executive director Renauld "Sonny" Barrios. "We have put in all the effort. Hopefully, this will be a successful conference," said Pangilinan. The SBP is hell bent to hold the event that will stamp a mark with FIBA-Asia officials. Al-Thani hopes that the staging of the FIBA-Asia Champions Cup will also pave the way for an even more successful stint by Philippine national teams in international competitions. "I'm wishing for a good result for the Philippines. This event will help the Philippines grow into a basketball legend again. They used to be the legend but I'm confident that they will perform their best," said Al-Thani. Pangilinan has no prediction as to how the Nationals will perform. "I hope that they perform to their best. It is very difficult to predict on how they'll do because there's a lot of formidable teams but it's a good workout for the team in the FIBA-Asia championship," said Pangilinan. — Reuben Terrado, JVP, GMA News