2023 FIBA WC hosting preparations under way

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio said even in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the country and co-hosts Japan and Indonesia have got the ball rolling for their 2023 FIBA World Cup chores.

According to Panlilio, SBP executives, their Japanese and Indonesian counterparts, and FIBAappointed executive director for the 2023 WC David Crocker have already met five times online to kickstart preparations for the prestigious meet.

“We’ve started some meetings over video cons,” Panlilio said in Radyo Singko’s “Power & Play” program.

“Our next task within the month is to go through a presentation of the logos, themes and mascots. In any event, those are the first activity. We did some survey pre-COVID and the FIBA has shortlisted two already and this month, with the three countries and FIBA, we will decide on this,” Panlilio added.

The FIBA recently confirmed the dates Aug. 25-Sept. 10 for the 2023 WC, which will mark the first time the games are spread over three countries.

Japan and Indonesia will host group-phase games while basketball-crazy Philippines will stage the elims all the way to the knockout stage.

The SBP is tapping Smart Araneta Coliseum and MOA Arena for the Philippine side of group play and the P55,000-seater Philippine Arena for the knockout stages.

“After the group play, all eight teams (quarterfinalists) will come to the Philippines for the playoffs,” Panlilio said.

The SBP chief shared the optimism of chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, who is confident of a smooth hosting despite the ongoing crisis. Pangilinan will also sit at the World Cup 2023 board that will oversee the whole tournament.

“Hopefully by 2023, meron ng vaccine so maayos na,” Panlilio said.

“Ako nga ang projection ko, that (World Cup 2023) may be the first major tournament in basketball of that scale that will happen COVID-free and back to normal, where you’ll have 15, 20, or 25,000 (fans) in the venue,” he added.