Gilas Pilipinas takes its act to the Philippine Arena for the sixth and final window of the FIBA World Cup Asian qualifiers.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) announced on Tuesday the main venue of next year’s World Cup will be the site of the final two games of the national team in the February window when the Filipinos tangle with Lebanon and Jordan.
And should everything falls into place, Justin Brownlee could be suiting up as the naturalized player for the national team in the Feb. 24-27 event.
SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios both confirmed the latest development in the campaign of Gilas Pilipinas during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum held face-to-face at the ground floor of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“Yung Philippine Arena talagang naka-schedule tayo doon, yung dalawang laro sa Pebrero,” said Barrios, a day after the national team arrived from the Middle East following a two-game sweep of Jordan and Saudi Arabia for the fifth window.
It will be the third window to be staged in the country after earlier hosting the first and second windows in February at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, and the fourth window last August at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Games in the 2023 World Cup will be held at the Big Dome, MoA, and the Philippine Arena.
“Yung tatlong venue na yan ang lalaruan sa World Cup. Kaya hangga’t maaari, lalaruan na natin. Parang nag-OJT na rin yung local organizing committee natin pag nagho-host tayo sa iba’t ibang venue natin,” Barrios said in the weekly session presented by San Miguel Corporation (SMC), MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR).
For the sixth window, the Filipinos tangle with Lebanon on Feb. 24 before taking on Jordan on Feb. 27.
