No Sanctions on SBP Amid Clark Bubble Cancellation

Clark was supposed to host two groups for the third and final window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers next month until the Samaahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced that the Clark bubble is already canceled.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the federation expressed regret over the said cancellation.

"We've exerted a lot of effort into our hosting of the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and this is why it is with great sadness that we announced it is no longer going to happen,"

Fortunately for the SBP, they won't be sanctioned FIBA as the governing body understood the situation of the federation and by extension, of the Philippine government as the cancellation of the Clark bubble was brought about by the travel ban imposed by the national government to prevent more entry of the new strains of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Japan, who was supposed to host a bubble of their own, has already begged off. 

"They knew we worked hard to make it happen and it's really just beyond our control," SBP President Al Panlilio said on Thursday.

"FIBA knows that we remain committed to their programs and SBP, as a federation, will always be supportive of the programs of Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis," Panlilio added.

Gilas Pilipinas, who is currently training inside the Calamba bubble training, will be playing in Doha, Qatar along with Group B, and Group E. Gilas, who is in Group A, only needs one win in the final window to secure a berth in the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup which will be played in August. 

Photo is from Rappler