THE NCAA has taken a break in its 95th men’s basketball tournament to enable basketball fans to cheer for Gilas Pilipinas competing in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in Foshan, China.
The league has one remaining playdate to complete the first round, the tripleheader postponed twice due to bad weather.
Instead of rescheduling it today, Tuesday, the NCAA Management Committee decided to have it played Friday at the Astrodome in Pasay City.
“We’re one in supporting our beloved national team Gilas Pilipinas. We’re giving way to the national team in its campaign in the 2019 FIBA World Cup,” NCAA chairman Peter Cayco of season host Arellano University said in a statement.
“As a nation, we want to focus and cheer as one for our national team — win or lose we support them and we at the NCAA, this is our own little way to show our all out support to Gilas Pilipinas and the efforts of the SBP,” added Cayco.
Friday’s games pit Letran against College of Saint Benilde at noon, followed by defending three-time champion San Beda versus Mapua at 2 p.m., and Arellano against San Sebastian at 4 p.m.
Paul Supan, Jose Rizal University’s representative to the Mancom, is currently in Foshan as part of the delegation of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas.
Gilas opened its World Cup campaign with a 108-62 loss to world No. 13 Italy last Saturday.
The Philippines was battling world No. 4 Serbia last night.