By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
The Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) hosted an inter-agency coordination meeting on Tuesday, March 14, for the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 that the country is co-hosting.
PSC Chairman Richard Bachmann spearheaded the meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City that was attended by 37 national government agencies (NGAs), local government units (LGUs), private organizations and stakeholders.
The three-hour discussion organized by the PSC is part of its mandate to get full assistance from other government entities to perform its functions, responding to the call for a comprehensive plan and a unified movement in making the co-hosting possible.
“Since basketball is the No. 1 sport in the Philippines, this hosting is vital not only in showcasing the best quality of the game to our kababayans and the world, but also in using sports as a universal opportunity to bond, connect and make impossibilities happen,” said Bachmann.
The country, which is co-hosting with Indonesia and Japan, hopes that the event will further strengthen sports tourism in the country as observed from previous World Cup hosting.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio extended his gratitude to the PSC for making this inter-agency meeting possible.
“This is not for SBP alone, this is for the Philippines,” said Panlilio.
It will be the first time in 45 years that the country is hosting this global tournament where 32 teams will compete in a total of 92 games across five venues in three countries.
The group phase of the competition will be simultaneously played on Aug. 25-30 in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines where the games will be held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum and SM MOA Arena.
The final phase of the competition is slated from Sept. 5 to 10 at the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
