Gilas Controversy: Is former senator Ping Lacson correct?



 Former Senator Ping Lacson has some traffic advice for foreign teams participating in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup: avoid Edsa if you want to avoid defaulting your games.

Sharing his perspective on his official Facebook page, Lacson, a former PNP chief and presidential candidate, offered a "friendly advice to the FIBA World Cup participating teams." He stated, "Don't take Edsa. You will lose by default."

Lacson's statement came a day ahead of the commencement of the quadrennial event, with games scheduled to take place at various venues including the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, MOA Arena in Pasay City, and Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao. Edsa, a long-standing traffic bottleneck in the city, has posed challenges for travelers.

Despite traffic concerns, event organizers have assured that measures have been taken to alleviate congestion during the World Cup, which runs from August 25 to September 10. A key initiative involves providing 400 point-to-point (P2P) shuttle buses for fans traveling to the Philippine Arena for the opening game between Gilas Pilipinas and the Dominican Republic.

Some World Cup matches originally designated for the Philippine Arena have been relocated to MOA Arena to facilitate smoother traffic management between Manila hotels and the Bulacan arena, where teams are stationed.

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has also announced its plan to implement intermittent road stops on major routes throughout the tournament, allowing passage for teams and delegates.

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