By Rey Joble

BASKETBALL, the nation?s favorite pastime, won?t be played in this year?s Southeast Asian Games in Laos.

For the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, competing in the biennial meet without the sport so dear to the hearts of Filipinos is devastating?and totally disappointing.

?The SBP is saddened and disappointed by the decision of Laos to exclude a major sports discipline from the SEA Games calendar this year,? said SBP executive director Noli Eala in a text message sent yesterday. ?The SBP did everything reasonably possible and fairly necessary to support the POC?s initiatives to push for basketball?s inclusion.?

The RP developmental pool, a team supported by the SBP and composed of the finest collegiate and amateur players in the land, is the one designated to compete in the SEA Games. The team even went through rigorous training under Serbian coach Rajko Toroman.

With basketball scratched from SEA Games calendar, Toroman?s team will have to find other international tournaments to join. The team will remain intact and continue preparing for the country?s quest for the elusive gold medal in the Olympics.

?While this is admittedly an unexpected setback in our long-term programs, the SBP remains undaunted and focused on our campaign toward the goal of an Olympic stint in 2012,? said Eala.

The SBP likewise urged the SEA Games organizers to put an Olympic sport such as basketball a must in all activities in the biennial meet.

?In light of this unfortunate event, the SBP is calling on the SEA Games to enact policies to ensure that major sports, which are staple events in the Olympics, become mandatory sports in future stagings of the SEA Games,? said Eala.