BCDA willing to host Fiba Asian qualifiers in February-dizon

THE Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) in Pampanga is willing to host the third window of the International Basketball Federation (Fiba) Asian 2021 Qualifiers in February.

“Yes, we can,” BCDA President and CEO Vivencio Dizon told Businessmirror on Friday.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio told an online press conference on Thursday about the federation’s intention to host the qualifier in the same Clark bubble where the Philippine Basketball Association is playing its Philippine Cup.

“Yes, we can host it because all the protocols and facilities are in place. We also have a proven track record,” Dizon said.

The BCDA and the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) are hosting the PBA since October 13.

“It’s secure and safe for sports as proven by the PBA bubble. We also have world- class health facilities, world- class infrastructure including the Clark International Airport, and world- class hotels and leisure facilities,” Dizon added.

Panlilio said the SBP already wrote Fiba of its intention to host the third window of the qualifiers particularly Group A where the Philippines is bracketed with South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.

The PBA is holding games at the Angeles University Foundation gym which conform with Fiba standards.

“The PBA bubble in Clark is a good template,” Ryan Gregorio, Panlilio’s special assistant at SBP, said.

The second window of the qualifiers are set from November 27 to 30 in a bubble environment in Manama, Bahrain.

An all-amateur team coached by Jong Uichico is flying to Bahrain on Sunday. The 16-member pool is composed of the 16-player pool is composed of Kobe Paras, brothers Mike and Matt Nieto, Angelo Kouame, Isaac Go, Justine Baltazar, Dave Ildefonso, Juan and Javi Gomez de Liaño, Calvin Oftana, Will Navarro, Dwight Ramos, Kenmark Carino, Jaydee Tungcab, Rey Suerte and Allyn Bulanadi.

The Philippines plays Thailand on November 27 and then South Korea, Indonesia and again Thailand in the next three days.