The Last Home Stand Between Gilas Pilipinas and NBA All Stars: What Really Happened?

Wazzup Pilipinas!
The organizers, including PLDT (Panay Lang Drills and Tricks) and NBA (No Basketball, Anyare?), knows they did something wrong but they're not telling us the whole story. I was there at the "charity event" and stayed a little while. I was able to talk with some key personalities and they all seem hesitant to reveal everything they know of what really happened.

Many were screaming for a refund and obviously full of disgusts while watching the "charity event" that turned out to be the most expensive for the people who were all there to witness what they thought was a friendly competitive game between the two teams.

There was even a sign shown containing telephone numbers for people to contact for refund requests, and many also lined up to sign their name and mobile numbers only to find out later that nobody from PLDT was getting the list anyway.

The hallways of Smart Araneta Coliseum were full of frustrated basketball lovers all cursing the organizers for the perceived scam that they felt cheated them of their hard-earned money.
Below are the official statements released by PLDT and NBA.

Was it all originally planned as just a charity event filled with drills and tricks?

PLDT Statement:

PLDT has announced that The Last Home Stand basketball event between Gilas Pilipinas and the Fibr All-Stars scheduled for tomorrow, July 23, is cancelled.
 
"We wish to apologize to our Filipino basketball fans for the sudden and disappointing turn of events today. We ourselves are extremely disappointed by this unexpected development. All we wanted was to give our Filipino basketball fans a real treat while at the same time, through this benefit event, help our countrymen who are still recovering from Supertyphoon Yolanda and more recently Typhoon Glenda," PLDT Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan said.
 
PLDT Executive Vice President Ariel Fermin assured ticket holders for events today and tomorrow will be refunded in full in an expeditious manner. Fermin said those seeking a refund may send the following information: 1) Full name; 2) ticket number; 3) contact number; and 4) email address either by text message to 0919 614 0865 or email to RefundIGW@gmail.com The ten-digit ticket number can be found at left portion of the ticket, below the seat number.
 
Fermin said that the agreement with the event organizer, IGW -- whose role it was to arrange the participation of the NBA players -- provided for a format involving a basketball clinic followed by a 5-on-5 game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Fibr All-Stars. However, PLDT was informed by IGW a few hours before the event today, July 22, that the 5-on-5 game was, as advised by IGW to PLDT, not allowed by the NBA.
 

Coach Chot Reyes talking to the crowd

Hosts tried their best to get the interest of the audience

Gilas Pilipinas and NBA All-Stars exchanging tokens

At the start of the event, the PLDT rep says they are willing to refund

Guest coach John Lucas and his awful voice

Basketball acrobatics

Hotline numbers for refund

The Last Home Stand

PLDT is in trouble. Somebody is going to get his butt kicked

People lined up to sign a list for refunds

Girl announces to watch out for announcements from the organizers soon

PLDT  This is your last stand

Everyone all lined up and signed here for a refund but nobody took the lists afterwards

NBA Statement
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.

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