SBP lowers criteria in SEABA women's caging

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has lowered the criteria for the national women’s team, which is tasked to represent the country in this year’s 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Recently, the criteria set by the governing cage body in the country is a gold medal finish in the coming Southeast Asia Basketball Association Women’s Championship as a requirement before competing in the quadrennial meet.

Now, the SBP is lowering the broom and a silver medal finish will just do fine. But here's the catch, the SBP will be forced to shell out some expenses if ever the RP women’s squad will only win a silver in the SEABA.

That's because the Philippine Olympic Committee set a criteria mandating every athlete which will compete in the Asian Games must be a gold medalist in any Southeast Asian Games level competition.

If ever the RP cagebelles win the gold, the team will be funded both by the POC and the Philippine Sports Commission.

But the SBP is keen on not sending a team if ever the cagebelles will finish below the silver medal target and that the association headed by Manuel V. Pangilinan is willing to pay penalties to be imposed by the organizers for withdrawing from the games.

The RP women's team is entered in the Asian Games and a withdrawal from the said competition will give the SBP a hefty fine. For the SBP, the cage team's non-inclusion in the Asian Games is a disciplinary measure if ever it doesn't meet the silver medal target in the SEABA.

This is the first time the Philippines is hosting the SEABA women’s cage meet.

The tournament is in its seventh edition with the first five edition held in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005 ruled by Malaysia.

Thailand hosted the 2007 edition and won the title with the Philippines settling for the silver medal.

No SEABA event was held from that time until Philippines decided to host the tournament this October.

Aside from Thailand and Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam have also signified their intention to join the tournament.