Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan wants the ball rolling as soon as possible as the country takes its turn to host the FIBA World Cup in 2023.
Pangilinan formally received the official FIBA flag from 2019 host China through NBA legend Yao Ming during the closing ceremony of the World Cup Sunday night in Beijing.
“We’re on our way – we’re bringing home the FIBA flag 2023 with us. The journey begins tonight,” said Pangilinan in a statement.
Pangilinan expressed his gratitude to President Rodrigo Duterte for his administration’s support in the country’s hosting bid, and to the FIBA central board led by outgoing president Horacio Muratore and former secretary-general, the late Patrick Baumann.
To start the process, Pangilinan said there are a couple of things that need to be established to get the hosting going, which the country is doing with Indonesia and Japan.
Pangilinan said that committees should soon be formed between the local officials and their Japanese and Indonesian counterparts.
The SBP, headed by its president Al Panlilio, will be the lead federation in staging the 2023 World Cup.
He also mentioned an early preparation for Gilas Pilipinas, which had a heartbreaking campaign in China as it dropped all five games, three in the group stage first round and two in the consolation round.
“Now the work begins – starting with the Local Organizing Committee, (and) the Steering Committee with Japan and Indonesia, and the Gilas Team 2023,” said the telecommunications mogul who was with former Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Ricky Vargas in China.
“In bringing all this effort to fruition in 2023, and in showing what we Filipinos can offer the world, I ask for your prayers and help for the SBP,” he added.
The elimination round of the 2023 FIBA World Cup will be played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, as well as in Tokyo Japan and in Jakarta Indonesia.
As main host, the Philippines will be the venue for the playoffs, starting in the quarterfinals all the way to the championship, and the games will be played at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. (Waylon Galvez)
