Forming a local organizing committee will be the first priority of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas as it begins its preparations for the country’s hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023.
SBP President Al Panlilio said the LOC will take care of everything – from handling the technical aspect of the tournament to the event’s commercial side.
“We’ll have to form the LOC and brainstorm the composition,” said Panlilio, who was with the SBP group when FIBA awarded the hosting rights to the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan last month in Switzerland.
“This group should know how to organize the World Cup as an event, not just running a basketball tournament,” he added.
The country will host 16 teams for the preliminary rounds, while Japan and Indonesia will have eight nations each in the first round of the tournament.
The Philippines will also host the knockout stage – from the quarterfinals and semifinals to the gold-medal match.
Panlilio refused to divulge the candidates who could be part of the organizing committee, but mentioned that it would be the same group that will travel to China next year and observe the 2019 World Cup.