Gilas vs NBA Cancellation: What happened? NBA bares reasons

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Gilas vs NBA cancellation of game has caused so much disappointment to Pinoy basketball fans, most especially those who bought tickets to the event.

The 2-day event dubbed 'Last Home Stand' and billed as a charity event for the benefit of Typhoon Yolanda survivors was supposed to feature the Gilas Pilipinas team playing against the NBA stars, such as James Harden, Kawhi Leonard, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, Kyle Lowry, Damian Lillard, Terrence Ross, Tyson Chandler, Ed Davis and Nick Johnson in an exhibition game at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Paul George and Blake Griffin, who were previously announced as part of the lineup, did not arrive.

Supposedly, the Gilas vs NBA exhibition game was intended to be a tune-up game for Gilas Pilipinas before they compete in the 2014 FIBA World Cup next month in Spain.

Those who went to the 1st day of the event yesterday saw only drills or live practice between the two teams, as reported in major news programs late last night.

As it turned out, no exhibition game happened both yesterday and
today, because NBA has prevented it from happening at the last minute. The reason of the cancellation? The promoter of the event failed to meet the necessary requirements long before.

NBA has issued this statement, outlining why it had to be cancelled:

"Under the terms of the NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement, players are allowed to participate in offseason basketball games or exhibitions when requirements for those events are met, including ensuring that appropriate safeguards be in place, and the promoter seeks the proper exemptions from the NBA and the player's team. The promoter of this proposed event, East-West Private LLC, was informed of this process several months ago but did not take the required steps. Filipinos are among the most passionate basketball fans in the world and we are committed to bringing them more access to our game and supporting the ongoing Typhoon Haiyan rehabilitation efforts."

Apparently, it was the promoter's fault and the organizers of the event knew they didn't have the necessary permit yet to do the exhibition game, but still, they continued to promote and lure people to buy tickets, confident that they won't have any major problem.

They have put in danger the NBA careers of those players, who could have been sanctioned had it been the game pushed through without the intervention of NBA.

I can imagine the disappointment, the frustration of those who purchased
tickets to the event.

The fans however went home with a good news that they can request for a refund of their money.

About mykiru

Mykiru is an entertainment blogger, having been named as one of the Top 10 Pinoy Showbiz Resources in the Philippines. For a decade now, Mykiru.ph has been delivering the latest, the hottest and most trending issues in the country.
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