00:00 Before the most awaited FIBA World Cup starts,
00:02 the Filipino basketball fans will be honoring the Naysmith Trophy
00:06 at the Manila Leg of the FIBA Trophy Tour held at a mall in Pasay.
00:11 Let's take a look at what happened in Rafael Bandayrel's words.
00:15 The Naysmith Trophy has arrived in Manila
00:19 or the golden bat that will be received by the FIBA Basketball World Cup.
00:24 Dozens of basketball fans have joined the trophy when it stopped at the Mall of Asia atrium this Sunday afternoon.
00:31 Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray, one of the FIBA World Cup Global Ambassadors this year,
00:36 was also caught off guard by the announcement.
00:40 Gray's wife, a great honor to serve as the Filipino representative in the Naysmith Trophy Tour.
00:50 It's a huge honor. Representing the Philippines is something I've done before and I took great pride in.
00:56 I'm very, very happy to be in this position to really show just what the Philippines is made of.
01:02 Not just our beautiful sights, our beautiful people, but also our genuine hospitality and love for the sport that is basketball.
01:07 As you can see, this is history in the making for us to be a host alongside Indonesia and Japan.
01:14 So we really take a lot of pride in welcoming people from all over the world to really witness the sports and the games on both.
01:21 But also to experience maybe for the first time the Philippines itself. So, very excited.
01:25 The Philippine legends, Jeff Chan, Gary David, and Larry Fonashear, are also here.
01:33 Although the trio of sharpshooters is now retired, their duty for the country is still not over.
01:41 Chan and David are very excited because they are about to witness their debt in the GILAS program,
01:47 which for them is a big part of their legacy.
01:51 I'm happy that I'm still part of GILAS. I also know the feeling that FIBA Asia and FIBA World,
01:58 they were also supporting us before. So, it's our turn to show support.
02:04 We should show our support to everyone when August 25 comes.
02:12 I'm very lucky and honored that I'm still part of GILAS even though we're done.
02:19 But we're still here as ambassadors, supporting them.
02:23 Jeff said that the support they gave us before, now we're supporting them.
02:28 For the country, we will do everything.
02:33 Fonashear can't hide his excitement for the upcoming campaign of the National Basketball Team
02:40 against the powerhouse Dominican Republic.
02:43 I'm super excited. I can't describe it.
02:45 You see the fans, the reception for everything. It's just amazing.
02:49 It hasn't sunk in yet for me but during the games, the thought of 50,000 cheering for one nation,
02:57 it's just going to be unbelievable.
03:00 The upcoming tournament will be held on Friday.
03:04 Its opening ceremony will be held at Dambuhalang Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan
03:10 where the first game of GILAS will be held.
03:13 Rafael Bandayrel, PTV Sports.
03:15 TV sports.
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