We will play louder than ever @ FIBA World Cup 2023

private sector and government will provide for the FIBA World Cup. Panlilio discussed a plan called “District 30,” a bold scheme to ensure that travel time to and from venues will be only thirty minutes for the teams, officials, guests andVIPs. He also discussed the program covering, safety, security, and traffic. Cayetano spoke about the “Build, Build Build” program of the government, a massive infrastructure program that will benefit the main venues of the FIBA World Cup in 2023 (and I hope Cebu too). He even shared his love for the sport and how he continues to play hoops with Bong Go, President Digong Duterte’s chief lieutenant. Meldadia echoed the support which President Digong earlier gave when the FIBA panel visited him in Malacañang two days before the presentation. The visiting team had earlier conducted ocular inspections at the proposed venues for the games: Philippine Arena in Bulacan, MOA Arena, Smart Araneta Coliseum, and PHILSPORTSArena.

The presentation of the bid itself was unique and “clutch.” On hand to support the bid were representatives from Indonesia and Japan as well as various key stakeholders of both basketball and the government. Present were members of the SBP Board of Trustees and a “who’s who” of Pinoy hoops. POC President Jose Cojuangco took time out to be there. The more familiar faces were Quinito Henson, who never fails to always find time to chat, the ageless Moying Martelino (more “experience” stories here), POC Secretary-General Steve Hontiveros, Maynilad President and incoming PBA Chairman Ramoncito Fernandez, Ever Bilena CEO Dioceldo Sy, Chooks To Go President Ronald Mascariñas, MVP Group media bureau head Mike Toledo, PLDT Smart Foundation President Butch Meily, Ricky Palou, Gil Cortez, Rey Bautista of Baguio, Ronnie Dizer of the UAAP, Eric Castro of the PBA, Pong Dacoco of Northern Mindanao and more. The SBP admin team was complete with SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios, Deputy Directors Butch Antonio, Bernie Atienza, and the entire office present. Miss Philippines-Universe Rachel Peters hosted the ceremony, while Noel Zarate assisted with voice over duties for both the ceremony and the press conference that followed.

But while all that was impressive, nice and attractive, the bottom line is if the Philippines will win the bid over Russia, Turkey and the joint hosting offer of Argentina and Uruguay. They’ve heard our “puso and passion” pitch before, but this didn’t work against China. But now that we’re adding the angle of growing the sport in an area of nearly 500 million people where basketball can still bloom, I strongly feel we have a legitimate shot at this. I’m certain that the staging of the FIBA Asia Cup of 2013 and the Olympic Qualifier tournament of 2016 served as a good dry run for the real thing. Russia and Turkey will have the edge in terms of resources, while the Argentina-Uruguay tandem is similar to that of our tri-country set-up. Russia is like a China that can and will throw its weight around and go all out with their offer with no less that President Vladimir Putin backing this up. They’re hosting football’s 2018 World Cup and would love nothing else than to follow this up with basketball. And since this is a bidding process, money will play a big role. Up against money and first world resources, it surely isn’t too late for us to also pray for the bid. As a prayerful country, we should all unite in prayer and ask that we win it.

Come December 9, the Philippines will receive an early Christmas gift: the rights to host the FIBA World Cup of 2023. We’ll prepare for this like never before and give the world the best FIBA World Cup ever. We will play louder than ever.