Humingi umano ng pahintulot ang Philippine men’s national basketball team na hindi sila dadalo sa opening ceremonies ng 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
Ayon kay Gilas Pilipinas coach Tim Cone, nais na lamang igugol ng pambansang koponan ang kanilang oras para magsanay imbis na magtungo sa Philippine Arena sa Bulacan upang dumalo sa opening rites kasama ang iba pang mga atleta.
“I understand we will not be in the opening. We’re not gonna be in the opening,” wika ni Cone.
“All the athletes in the games have had a year or more to prepare for this tournament, for the SEA Games, and we basically have a week,” anang coach. “And we cannot afford to have less time off our practice.”
Para kay Cone, ibubuhos na lamang nila sa kanilang ensayo ang panahon na makokonsumo nila sa biyahe patungong Bocaue, Bulacan.
“We made a request not to join the opening so we could do a two-a-day practice. I believe it’s been granted,” ani Cone.
Sa kabila nito, may plano na rin daw ang koponan para ipakita ang kanilang suporta para sa kapwa mga atletang Pinoy.
Anang coach, susubukan daw nilang manood ng ilan sa mga laro sa Disyembre 5 at 8, kung kailan walang naka-schedule na laro ang Gilas.
“We wanna be part of the games. We don’t wanna be in our own tournament. We wanna be part of the games,” ani Cone.
“We wanna go out and find some athletes to support. We have to find out all the logistics for it, but the fifth and the eighth are the days in which we can go out and support the other athletes.”
“We can go check out Rizal or whatever’s happening around (Mall of Asia). I think that’s important for these guys to show their support for the other athletes,” ani Cone. “We don’t wanna sit up on our perch and pretend we’re different from everybody else.”
