Test event to simulate World Cup atmosphere

PREPARATIONS for the Philippines’ co-hosting of the FIBA World Cup is running well with 72 days left before the so-called Olympic of basketball makes its return here.

Joint Management Committee head John Lucas and Deputy Event Director Erika Dy announced that planning and organization for the staging of the event is almost 80 percent complete, with a test event to be held later this month to simulate the World Cup atmosphere.

“On June 27 and 28, we’ll actually have our test event where we will hold games following the FIBA time which is 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Smart Araneta and 4:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia. So simultaneous mangyayari ang mga laro,” said Dy when she appeared in the Philippine Sportswriters Association he knocked in 114 points during tryouts at the Bureau of Corrections range in Muntinlupa.

Forum on Tuesday at the main lobby of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Joining the two in the session presented by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann and local media committee head Virgil Villavicencio.

A combination of UAAP and NCAA teams are the ones playing the games, which will be covered live to test the broadcast side of the coverage.

At the same time, transportation going to both venues is likewise going to be simulated, with the games open to the public.

“This means nakalatag na lahat ng plano. It’s just all about execution,” added Dy, a former Ateneo player and coach.

Garcia said all shooters who hit the Asian Games’ criteria will be sent to the World Championships in Baku Azerbaijan, set from August 4 to Sept 3. The PNSA, according to Garcia, is still not done yet with their selection process as the tryouts for trap and skeet shooting are still going on.

Garcia said veteran campaigners Jethro Dionisio , Eric Ang, Carlos Carag and Ormoc City Rep. Richard Gomez are still seeking slots in the men’s trap, while Valerie Levanza is in contention in the women’s side.

They also have Joaquin Miguel Ancheta vying for a seat in men’s skeet.

Heat

From C1

“Even though it’s sport, you can learn lessons of life from this game — that you can persevere, you can handle what people may view as mini-failures along the way and become stronger from it and overcome things.”

The Heat lost in the finals for the third time in 10 years but just reaching the championship series was a shocking feat.

“We would have liked to be able to climb the mountaintop and be able to get that final win,” Spoelstra said.

“But I think this is a team that a lot of people can relate to, if you ever felt that you were dismissed or made to feel less than. We had a lot of people in our locker room that probably have had that, and there’s probably a lot of people out there that have felt that.

“But also the way this team handled setbacks and adversity... hopefully these are lessons that will transcend this beautiful game, that we can pass along to our children.”

‘Willed our way through’ Miami’s Kyle Lowry, who won a title with Toronto, praised Butler and the special bond among teammates but was still hurting too much from his title dreams ending in heartache.

“It’s a special bond with this group. We were led by one of the best basketball players on this earth, and he instilled confidence in us,” Lowry said of Butler.

“We don’t know how we’re going to feel right this moment, but we’ll look back at some point and say it was a great year, great run. But right now, just can’t even think about that.”

Bam Adebayo, who had 20 points and 12 rebounds in defeat, said force of will had dragged Miami to the brink of the championship.

“We willed our way through ups and downs. We willed our way through the things that people said we couldn’t do,” Adebayo said. “I just take these lessons and I apply them to the next season. Whenever we go through adversity, I’m always going to look back and be like, we’ve been through adversity before.”

Butler said he was confident the Heat have what it takes to win an NBA crown.

“I’ve had some helluva teammates come through and compete with me and give us the opportunity to win a championship, which I still believe, with everything in me, that we will do,” Butler said. “Came up short, but I’m blessed. I’m fortunate.