Senator Christopher “Bong” Go, who is a diehard basketball fan, has filed Senate Resolution 83 urging the Committee on Sports to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on ways to lend Gilas Pilipinas a helping hand.
The resolution also seeks to review relevant laws and policies to ensure optimal performance in future international sports competitions and to protect the welfare of Filipino athletes.
Aside from Go, the said resolution was also introduced by Senators Mark Villar, Francis Tolentino, Alan Peter Cayetano and Senate Majority Floor Leader Joel Villanueva.
Go, who will continue to serve as chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, noted in the resolution that “avid Filipino Gilas fans have been clamoring that the team be given solid support so it could fare well in international meets.”
“There is a pressing need to revisit sports relevant laws and policies which are aimed to support Philippine national teams participating in international competitions and review any related measures that will ensure the competitiveness and welfare of Filipino athletes,” he said.
The Philippines was unable to complete a record-breaking 14th consecutive Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medal in the men’s basketball division after losing to Indonesia in Hanoi last May.
The loss also put an end to the 33-year basketball dominance of Gilas Pilipinas at the SEA Games.
Adding insult to injury was the failure of the Gilas team to reach the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup for the first time in 15 years last month in Jakarta.
These defeats came just 14 months before the Philippines co-hosts the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup with Japan and Indonesia, which will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Mall of Asia Arena from 25 August to 10 September next year.
The country will also host the final phase of the competition.
“We’ll find ways to help basketball because it is a sport that is very close to our hearts,” Go said.
“We’d like them to improve.”