Int’l hoopfest back on home soil

International basketball country’s services. returns to Philippine “The SBP knows that soil next month with the Filipino basketball fans FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers have waited a long time staging in Clark, Pampanga for this and we’re just as finally getting government excited as they are to have approval. international basketball in

Through Resolution 114, our country again,” SBP the Inter-Agency Task Force president Al Panlilio said. (IATF) cleared the way for This will actually be the the Samahang Basketbol ng Al Panlilio first international hoopfest Pilipinas (SBP) to host the tournament in the Philippines since the basketball from June 16-20 in a bubble setting. competitions of the Manila Southeast

Gilas Pilipinas, currently training Asian Games in 2019. in a bubble camp in Calamba, Laguna, Gilas played its first three assignments will headline the participants in the in the Asia Cup qualifiers in pandemictwice-delayed event. The SBP was hit 2020 on the road, beating Indonesia originally set to hold it last February in Jakarta then sweeping Thailand in two but was forced to give it up due to games in the Bahrain bubble. travel restrictions at that time. Qatar South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia took over but eventually withdrew as will join Gilas in Group A action in Clark well, prompting the SBP to re-offer the while Japan, China and Chinese Taipei will play in Group B. Hong Kong and Guam will see action in Group C.

Panlilio assured participants of a safe environment for the third and final window of the qualifiers for the continental showpiece.

“The SBP has been working with FIBA, government agencies, and other partners to ensure a successful and, more importantly, a safe bubble,” said Panlilio, who expressed his gratitude to Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Butch Ramirez and National Task Force Against COVID-19 deputy chief implementer Vince Dizon for their assistance.

“We’re looking forward to hosting our friends from Groups A, B and C and showing them the kind of hospitality that the Philippines is known for,” he added.