By REYNALD MAGALLON
The stars are starting to descend to Manila.
2023 FIBA World Cup participants are starting to arrive in the country, almost a week before the global showpiece which fires off on Friday, Aug. 25.
Ivory Coast, which already played against Gilas Pilipinas in a closed-door tuneup game, and the Nikola Vucevic-led Montenegro, another team set to be facing the Nationals, arrived in the country last Thursday, Aug.17.
First Gilas rival set to foot in the country is Angola, which is scheduled to arrive on Saturday, Aug. 19 along with Egypt and Mexico, which just like Ivory Coast and Montenegro, will be locking horns against the Nationals on Monday, Aug. 21.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greece and Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic, meanwhile, are arriving on Sunday, Aug. 20 which gives them enough time to get acclimated in the country before its highly-anticipated showdown against the hosts at the Philippine Arena on the opening day.
The highly-touted Team USA leading the bulk of the arrivals on Tuesday, Aug. 22 along with four other teams.
Gilas’ Group A opponent Italy is set to come over on the same day as well along with fellow powerhouse crews Serbia and Puerto Rico and fellow FIBA Asia representative New Zealand.
Following suit are Lithuania, China, South Sudan and Jordan on the next day as the last batch of attendees to four groups to be hosted at Mall of Asia Arena and Araneta Coliseum.
