2 weeks Ago
Some PBA executives shared their disagreement with the decision made by Strong Group Athletics during their campaign at the 34th Dubai International Basketball Championship, where the Philippine representative withdrew from the third place game due to officiating issues . PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said if it were up to him, he would have wanted for SGA to still compete in the battle for bronze as they were representing the Philippines in the tournament. SGA decided to pull out of the contest after a narrow semifinal 68-63 loss to Tunisia, where the squad felt inconsistencies in officiating ultimately decided the result of the game.
"We at Strong Group Athletics have officially decided not to participate in the third-place game of the 34th Dubai Basketball International Championship, as we call for equality and fairness in officiating and for the game to be treated with the proper respect," SGA had said at the time. "Our decision comes after our semifinal matchup against Tunisia on Saturday evening, where we encountered officiating inconsistencies that significantly impacted the outcome of the contest." "As competitors, we respect the game and its governing principles.
However, fairness and accountability are fundamental in maintaining the integrity of international basketball," the team added. SGA would have faced the UAE National Team in the battle for third place. "Sa akin lang, opinyon ko lang, sana nilaro natin 'yung third kasi ni-represent din natin ‘yung bansa, sabi nila," Marcial said during the PBA's 50th anniversary logo unveiling on Monday.
"At pangalawa, kahit hindi bansa natin, kahit ligang barangay sana naglaro tayo. ‘Yun po ay sa akin lang." [In my opinion, I wish we had played the third place game because we're representing the country, they said.
And second, even if it wasn't the country, if it were a baragay league, I wish we played. That's my opinion.] PBA vice chairman and Barangay Ginebra team governor Alfrancis Chua echoed Marcial's sentiment, stressing that as the country's representative — together with fellow PH team Zamboanga Valientes — they should have endured what they felt was unfair treatment as it would reflect on the country in general.
Chua added that most members of the PBA Board of Governors were shocked by SGA's decision. "Sa akin lang, kung makikita mo bago sila umalis, they said that they’re representing the Philippines. ‘Yun lang akin, kung nire-represent mo at meron kang bandera dito, e ‘wag tayong umayaw," Chua said.
"‘Wag tayong umayaw kung nasaktan tayo, natalo, pero ‘wag natin ipakita ‘yun. Tayong mga Pilipino, tatapusin natin ang liga kasi magre-reflect e. ‘Yun lang sa amin, napagusapan namin sa board parang lahat kami nagulat.
" [For me, if you saw before they left, they said that they're representing the Philippines. For me, if you represent the country and you have the flag here, don't back out. Don't back out because we were hurt, we lost, but let's not show that.
For us Filipinos, we finish the league because it will reflect on us. That's it for us, we spoke about this in the board and it was like almost all of us were surprised.] Archen Cayabyab, team governor of Converge where SGA head coach Charles Tiu serves as deputy, said he respects the squad's decision but stressed they won't tolerate such an act in Converge.
Cayabyab also clarified that Converge and SGA are two different entities. "‘Yung Converge kasi at SGA kumbaga hiwalay. Ang Converge, the owner is Mr.
Dennis Uy and owner of SGA is Mr. Frank Lao pero magkaibigan naman ‘yan e," Cayabyab said. "'Yung nangyari sa Dubai sabi nila na-associate ‘yung Converge kasi assistant coach namin si Charles and team manager si Jacob Lao.
Labas naman ‘yung Converge doon. Kung ano ‘yung naging decision nila, it’s their decision." "Sa Converge kasi, hindi namin ito-tolerate gawin ‘yung gano’ng acts.
" [Converge and SGA are separate. Converge, the owner is Mr. Dennis Uy, and the owner of SGA is Mr.
Frank Lao but they are friends. What happened in Dubai, some say people associate it with Converge because Charles is an assistant coach with us and the team manager is Jacob Lao, Converge is not part of that. Whatever their decision was, it's their decision.
At Converge, we would not tolerate doing those kind of acts.] —JMB, GMA Integrated News.
