ArenaPlus rallies behind Gilas Pilipinas

ArenaPlus formally renewed its sponsorship with Gilas Pilipinas, giving it a major boost as it aims to qualify in the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Qatar in 2027.

Rafael Jasper Vicencio, the official representative of Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc., and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy graced the renewal of contract during a send-off party of Gilas Pilipinas for the FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers against Guam last November.

The Filipinos went on to beat the Guamanians, 87-46, at the Calvo Field House in Guam on 28 November before posting a 95-71 victory when the tie moved to the Blue Eagle Gym inside the Ateneo de Manila University campus on 1 December to emerge with a perfect 2-0 card in the first round.

Gilas coach Tim Cone said their hard work and dedication paid off, giving them a pair of easy victories as they head into the second round against Oceania powerhouse squads Australia and New Zealand starting February.

“The players came to work, which shows how important this means to us, these players have been through failures and they’ve learned from those failures, they also understand that we’re not taking anything for granted, so we expect a stronger team coming up,” Cone said.

Aside from Vicencio and Dy, also present during the contract-signing were Philippine Basketball Association commissioner Willie Marcial and SBP program director Alfrancis Chua, who led the call for fans to keep on supporting Gilas Pilipinas as it aims to make its eighth World Cup appearance.