At A Glance
- What's happening to the people of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas?
HANGZHOU, China – What’s happening to the people of Samahang Basketball ng Pilipinas?

With the backing of Smart and PLDT top honcho Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP executives should be on top of situation in all matters pertaining to basketball because it is closest to the heart of the Filipinos.
But they kept on mishandling the rosters of the two national teams – first on Gilas Pilipinas then the women’s 3x3 team.
Sadly, this marks the first time that the halfcourt game be played in the Asian Games.
Without any recourse left, the women’s 3x3 on Monday, Sept. 25, pulled out from the tournament since they have only two players left after the team's request for replacements was thumbed down.
Will MVP drop the axe on the people responsible for these embarrassments?
SHUN-SATIONAL!
That was the banner headline of the Games’ Asiad Daily that came out Monday, Sept. 25.
That was fitting. Very apt.
That’s because the name of athlete is Wang Shun, a swimmer par excellence.
Living up to his lofty status – being an Olympic champion – Shun revved the nation’s gold medal machine with a record-setting victory in the men’s 200m individual medley.
So at the end of the frenetic first day of competitions, the host nation was way, way ahead in the medal board with 21 golds.
VIP fans
Among the VIPs who watched Eumir Marcial’s methodical victory Sunday were PBA bigwigs – chairman Ricky Vargas, San Miguel Sports Director Al Chua and Commissioner Willie Marcial.
Chua and Marcial are known boxing afficionados while Vargas was a one-time head of the boxing association.
The three, however, are here for Gilas Pilipinas with Chua acting as team manager with Marcial as assistant.
Busy as bees
POC President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission Richard Bachmann were seen at various venues Sunday, giving morale support to Filipino athletes battling for glory and a chance to earn a fortune.
They are expected to continue playing the role of “cheerers” since Chief de Mission and Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez is yet to arrive due to his congressional duties.
And for that, the one-time popular actor missed the chance to watch her daughter, fencer Juliana play against the best in the region.
Gomez is hoping to catch up with the athletes as soon as he gets a flight here.