Last Updated on Tuesday, 16 March 2010 20:47
Smart-Gilas Pilipinas Basketball Team
The Philippines’ national basketball team is all set for next leg of their worldwide exhibition tour, with their next destination – Australia!
GMA Pinoy TV is the exclusive media partner of the team in the Australian leg of their world tour, in cooperation with UBI World TV.
After an impressive third place finish at the 21st Dubai International Basketball Tournament in January this year, the SBP – Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team has lined up a six-game tournament, playing against different Australian basketball clubs from March 13 to 22.
The exhibition tour of Australia and other countries in the world is part of the national team’s training program in their quest to land a place and bring home honours at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
The Pinoy cagers will first go head-to-head with the U19 Australian team at 7 p.m. on March 15 at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Hall in Canberra. The following day, at 7 p.m., the team will face the AIS team. The two teams will once more face off in the Pinoys’ third game on March 17, 7 p.m., at the AIS Hall. The action continues on March 18 as the team faces the Canberra Gunners at 7 p.m. in a venue yet to be confirmed.
On March 19, the team leaves for Sydney where they are set to face the NSW Institute of Sport team for a private game. Smart Gilas will then play the Sydney City team, set on March 21, 3 p.m., at the Alexandria Basketball Stadium, for the last of its six-game Australian tournament.
All games are open to the public for free except the March 21 game at the Alexandria Basketball Stadium where tickets are being sold at $3.00 for adults and $2.00 for children.
Fans are also invited to a community meet-and-greet with the Team on Saturday, March 20 at 5.00pm at Kevin Betts Basketball Stadium in Ralph Place, Mount Druitt. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to see the team in the flesh and take pictures together with your favourite players.
Led by head coach Rajko Toroman, the SBP – Smart Gilas Pilipinas National Basketball Team is composed of top collegiate hoop stars Chris Tiu, Mark Andy Barroca, JV Casio, RJ Jazul, Marcio Lassiter, Chris Lutz, Dylan Ababou, Mac Baracael, Rey Guevarra, JR Cawaling, Aldrech Ramos, Magi Sison, Japeth Aguilar, Jason Ballesteros, Rabeh Al-Hussaini and Greg Slaughter.
Smart Gilas’ media partner is GMA Pinoy TV, the flagship international channel of leading Philippine TV Station GMA Network.
A GMA video production team from the Philippines will be part of the tour to document the journey of the Philippine team in their aim of participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
GMA Pinoy TV is broadcasting exclusively in Australia on UBI World TV, the largest multi-cultural pay TV and radio broadcaster in Australia and New Zealand.