By REYNALD MAGALLON
Filipino fans are surely up for a treat as aside from Gilas Pilipinas, Team USA is set to take the spotlight when Manila becomes a global basketball hotbed in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in August.
Expected to be bannered by NBA stars for the world meet, USA will be playing in the Philippines as confirmed by FIBA Central Board following consultations with the three host nations on Monday, Dec. 12.
Expected to suit up for Team USA are Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, Jaylen Brown and probably Steph Curry, LeBron James and Anthony Davis.
The Philippines, along with co-hosts Japan and Indonesia were asked to select their preferred team, based on commercial reasons, which will play in the groups that they will be hosting in the preliminary rounds. World No. 7 Slovenia will be travelling to Japan while Canada is set to take part in the groups in Indonesia.
As was the case at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 with China, the Philippines, as tournament host for the Group Phase and Final phase, will be placed in Pot 1, where it will be joined by the best ranked teams in the FIBA World Ranking Men, during the official draw set on April 29.
For that reason, the USA and Philippines will be placed in two of the four groups that will take place in the Philippines. Japan and Slovenia will play their Group Phase in Okinawa, where two groups will be played. Canada will play in Jakarta, Indonesia, with two of the 8 top teams in the world ranking joining it in the two groups.
The complete FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles will be defined after the conclusion of the sixth window of the qualifiers in February and once all 32 qualified teams are known.