SBP eyes Indonesia as partner for WC bid
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan has hinted the Philippines and Indonesia are partnering with another Asian country in a bid to win the hosting rights for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
“FIBA knows we’re bidding for 2023 World Cup. With Indonesia. Maybe now with a 3rd Asian country. Abangan,” said Pangilinan on his Twitter account @imMVP.
Pangilinan, who attended the FIBA Central Board meeting in Geneva as a member of the elite 24man board, didn’t mention the third Asian country, though.
But it could be Hong Kong or Japan as both countries sent representatives during the FIBA workshop in Geneva last November specifically about the 2023 World Cup hosting.
Argentina, Germany, Russia, Turkey and Australia were among other countries represented in the congress attended by SBP executive director Sonny Barrios, along with deputy executive director Butch Antonio and TV5 chief financial officer Ana Bengzon, representing the Philippines.
The Phl-Ina team-up has filed an application for the bid.
Pangilinan said the next FIBA Congress is set in May. “Most likely ( in) in Macao. We will support,” Pangilinan also tweeted.
The Philippines fell a few votes short of clinching the right to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup, losing to China in the battle of two finalists. The FIBA Central Board awarded the privilege to China on a 14- 7 vote during a meeting in Tokyo in 2015.
As a consolation, the Philippines won the bid to host one of three FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments last year. The bidders were the Czech Republic, Germany, Turkey, Serbia, Italy and the Philippines. Aside from the Philippines, Serbia and Italy were awarded hosting rights.
But the Phl cage federation isn’t stopping there.
In an earlier tweet before the start of the recently concluded FIBA Central Board meeting, Pangilinan stressed the Philippines is pursuing another bid.
If ever, the Philippines and Indonesia would amend their bid to add a third Asian country in their synergy.
Indonesian tycoon Erick Thohir, the SEABA president who is also a member of the FIBA Central Board, agreed to combine forces with the Philippines in a recent private meeting with Pangilinan in Hong Kong.
The partnership of the Philippines and Indonesia guarantees a twonation audience of over 360 million.
The Filipinos are regarded as the world’s best basketball fans in the world while the Indons are also slowly getting into it.
The Indons have their team in the Asean Basketball League and are among those fighting for second behind the Philippines in the SEA Games and in SEABA.