Laos turns down SEA Games basketball – again

MANILA, Philippines – A high-ranking official of the Laos government has rejected the inclusion of basketball from the Southeast Asian Games, a development that would likely stun local basketball stakeholders who were assured a cage tournament would take place in the biennial games. But Go Teng Kok, the head of the sports and rules committee of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said he would talk to Laos Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad to clear the matter. Somsavat, who is also the chairman of the Laos SEA Game Organizing Committee, presided over a SEAG Federation summit over the weekend and announced there that basketball would be scrapped from the roster of sports. Go was not present during the meeting. Since it was awarded the hosting duties for the SEA Games, Laos was never keen on playing hoops, citing the absence of facilities to hold a tournament. The Philippines, the event’s men’s defending champion, and Thailand have previously pledged to support the holding of a cage event, and even vowed to assist in any logistical requirements. Fiba-Asia has also promised to back any efforts along the line. The POC, Go said, would ask Laos to reconsider its latest decision. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, the country's basketball federation, has yet to comment on the matter. – GMANews.TV