By REYNALD MAGALLON
The Filipino fans are going crazy with the prospect that some of the biggest and the brightest stars in the world of basketball could be descending to Manila for the 2023 FIBA World Cup in August.
With the Philippines hosting four groups in the preliminaries, Filipino fans could see a handful of NBA stars playing in flesh and up close at the Philippine Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum and Mall of Asia Arena from Aug. 25 to Aug. 30.
In Gilas Pilipinas’ bracket alone, NBA players could reinforce their respective teams against the host squad in Group A.
World No. 10 Italy could only get stronger if its NBA players led by newly-minted NBA Rookie of the Year Paolo Banchero along with the likes of Danilo Gallinari and Marco Bellinelli commits to play in Manila for the world meet.
Dominican Republic also has its own reinforcement with Minnesota Timberwolves big man Karl Anthony Towns expressing his interest playing for the Dominicana along with fellow NBA big Al Horford and guard Chris Duarte.
Angola also has Rockets Bruno Fernando who could possibly lead the African team.
Over at Group B, 2023 MVP race front runner Nikola Jokic is expected to see action for Serbia. Just like in 2019, he could be joined by streaky gunner Bogdan Bogdanovic and the humongous Boban Marjanovic.
All eyes are also in the ‘Group of Death’ in Group C where European powerhouse Greece and world no. 2 USA which found themselves in an early collision course at the Mall of Asia Arena.
USA, of course, is expected to be bannered by NBA superstars in the likes of Boston Celtics duo of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown who both saw action in the 2019 edition of the World Cup.
NBA All Stars like Steph Curry, Damian Lillard, Ja Morant, Anthony Davis and even Lebron James who could be playing for his World Cup swan song, could also join Team USA.
Former league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo along with his brothers Thanasis and Kostas could also be spearheading Greece’s campaign.
Group D, meanwhile, could see Chicago Bulls’ Nikola Vucevic returning to national team duty with Montenegro and Sacramento Kings’ Domantas Sabonis and New Orleans Pelicans’ Jonas Valanciunas playing for Lithuania.
