MVP calls for support of World Cup hosting
NOW comes the hardest part.
As the country celebrated the International Basketball Federation’s (FIBA) decision to award the hosting of the 2023 FIBA World Cup to the PH-led consortium, business tycoon Manny V. Pangilinan challenged the Filipinos to give their full support to the event and show to FIBA, and the world, that this basketball- crazy nation can stage a world- class competition.
Pangilinan, the former Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president and now the federation’s chairman emeritus, did not hide his excitement after the FIBA Board awarded the hosting rights to the of the 2023 World Cup Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
“Happy for our people. You should have seen how pleased FIBA Board was to award the bid to us and to feel their very warm response to our bid – hugs, handshakes, smiles, taps on the back, words of encouragement all around. I was extremely proud to be Filipino at that moment,” Pangilinan wrote on his Twitter account on Monday.
“At long last, we stood there equal with other basketball nations. Yes, I was in tears, but too, too tired to let those tears flow. But my heart was fullest in love for our peop—this, I did not let them down,” he added.
The PH- led bid bested the joint bid of Argentina and Uruguay, paving the way for the return of the 32- nation tournament to the Philippines, which last hosted the same event, then known as FIBA World Championship, in 1978.
It was redemption for Pangilinan and the SBP group after losing to China in the bidding of the 2019 World Cup two years ago.
Though the event is six years from now, the sports patron said the work should start now as the country has drawn the attention of the world.
“So now let’s show them what we as a nation are capable of. Rise Pilipinas! Stand Up— the world has just saluted you. Let’s prove to them that YES, WE CAN.”
Hosting international basketball tournaments is not new to the SBP, as during Pangilinan’s term, the country has hosted numerous multi-nation events such as the 2013 FIBA Asian Championships and the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last year where Turkey, Senegal, Canada, France and New Zealand competed besides the Gilas Pilipinas.
But the 2023 World Cup is undoubtedly the biggest competition that the country will host in recent years, as the stars of basketball, especially from the National Basketball Association, will showcase their world- class skills in front of Filipinos.
Sixteen nations will play here, eight each in Japan and Indonesia, but the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals will be played in the Philippines.
And paraphrasing Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s speech to the Corps of Cadets at the US Military Academy in May 1962 entitled “Duty, Honor” Country,” Pangilinan hopes the Filipinos will embrace the challenge.
“Should we give up, the ghosts of our players and coaches will rise from their graves—in their blues, reds, greens, black, orange, yellows —to remind us to continue the good work, keeping in mind this trinity of values—values of MacArthur’s Alma Mater— “Duty, Honor, Country.”