Lebanon, not RP, will host London Olympics qualifier

Lebanon, and not the Philippines, will host the 2011 International Basketball Federation (Fiba)-Asia Championship, the region’s qualifier for the London Olympics the following year.

This was relayed to the BusinessMirror on Sunday by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) executive director Noli Eala, who, along with other top officials of the federation, attended the Fiba-Asia Council congress in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
Reelected Fiba-Asia president Sheikh Saud, secretary-general Dato Yeoh and deputy secretary-general Hagop Khajirian awarded the right to host the important event to the Lebanese association.
The SBP campaigned to bring the tournament to Manila not only to show Fiba-Asia that Philippine basketball is now in order, but also to give Filipinos the opportunity to witness top-level Asia basketball in action.
The champion in the 2011 championships will represent the continent in the London Olympics.
Big Iranian out of Guangzhou
It looks like the Philippines (Smart Gilas) and the rest of the contenders in the continent have one less big man to be concerned about in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

Memphis Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi is expected to stay with his team in the National Basketball Association (NBA) instead of joining the Iranian national squad.
The 7-foot-2 center told Tehran Times that he will take part in the Grizzlies’ summer camp next month in Las Vegas.
“The Asian Games is not an official tournament, so I’m obliged to stay in the US,” Haddadi told the paper.
“However, Iranian officials are now negotiating with my team to allow me to accompany Iran in China.”