by Waylon Galvez
FIBA Oceania Executive Director David Crocker is a huge fan of Philippine basketball and says he is confident the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the PBA will form a solid national team for this year’s FIBA World Cup in China.
Crocker said it is a joy to watch the Philippine brand of basketball where guards normally dominate the game.
FIBA Oceania Executive Director David Crocker (Waylon Galvez)
“What really interests me is, what I’ve been hearing is the great collaboration between the PBA and the SBP with the sense of we want the best national team that we can possibly form at the World Cup,” said Crocker last Friday night as he watched the PBA games as guest of SBP president Al Panlilio.
“From FIBA and from any basketball fan, that’s pretty exciting to think that they assemble the best talent for the Philippines and go play. From what I’ve seen, (Philippine style) it’s quick and it’s physical. Shooting is pretty special to watch. In different places, big men dominate. But it’s not the case here. As a basketball fan, it’s fun to watch to see the ball get up and down the floor.”
“It’s always good to see the guards control the game as well,” added Crocker.
Crocker, who is from Australia, said that it’s good to see the Philippines clinch a spot in the World Cup.
“I’m a big fan of the SBP. I’ve been working alongside for a couple of years now so I understand where they’re heading. Certainly it’s a big effort to qualify back to the World Cup. It’s a whole new system to play of course, home and away. Every three months you’ve got to assemble the national team, you’ve got to get on the round and travel,” he said.
“I think the SBP has managed it well. It’s complex when you have such a prominent league which has a fan base in trying to put together the national team. It’s a really coming together of the basketball fans in the Philippines. That’s going to be really exciting when they come together in China to see how they perform,” added Crocker.