Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan believes that 3×3 basketball allows the Philippines to have a “better chance” of qualifying for the Olympics.
Pangilinan said that height, or the lack of it, is not a big issue in 3×3 basketball compared to the usual five-on-five.
“I’m not an expert on 3 x 3, but it gives us a better chance than the five-on-five. Parang iba ang laro roon and we don’t have to be an extra tall team. Parang ganun ang basa ko doon,” Pangilinan told InterAksyon.
“It gives the Philippines a better chance. I think relatively speaking it’s a slightly better chance for us to play in the Olympics.”
With that, Pangilinan urged the country’s cage leaders to give special attention to this new Olympic event.
“Congratulations to FIBA for getting the 3 x 3 to the Olympic calendar. I hope we can send our best players as well. We haven’t really focused on it much yet. But now, we should focus on it,” he said.
