Pilipinas tatayong host ng 2023 FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines — Naibsan na ang naunang kabiguan ng Pilipinas sa China no­ong 2015 bidding.

Kagabi ay pormal nang ibinigay ng FIBA Central Board ang hosting rights ng 2023 World Cup sa Pilipinas, Japan at Indonesia.

Bago ang presentasyon ng Pilipinas, kasama ang Japan at Indonesia sa isang consortium, sa harap ng FIBA Central Board ay sinabi ni Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangi­linan na ang pamamahala sa 2023 FIBA World Cup ang maiiwan niyang ‘legacy’ sa Philippine basketball.

“World basketball is coming home to the Philip­pines. This is a proud moment for every Filipino.  Sta­ging the World Cup with 32 competing teams is a huge honor for our country.  Our deep love for bas­ketball, our passion for the sport is unequalled any­where in the world. Basketball flows through our blood, pulses through our veins and animates our hearts.  Basketball is what defines us, it is what unites us.  We will play louder than ever,” ani Pangilinan.

Tinalo ng Pilipinas ang bid ng nagtambal na Argentina-Uruguay.

Labing anim sa kabuuang 32 koponan na kasali sa 2023 FIBA World Cup ang maglalaro sa Mall of Asia Arena sa Pasay City, Smart Araneta Coliseum at Philippine Arena sa Bocaue, Bulacan.

Ang walong iba ay maglalaro sa preliminaries sa Okinawa Arena, isa rin sa mga venues para sa 2020 Olympic Games, sa Japan at ang huling walong ko­ponan ay maglalaban naman sa preliminaries sa 10,000-seater na Istora Senayan ng Gelora Bung Ka­mo Sports Complex, isa sa mga venues na pagdarausan ng 2018 Asian Games sa Jakarta, Indonesia.

“We thanked FIBA for the opportunity to stage its most significant tournament in one of the world’s most significant markets – a powerhouse economy, a massive commercial opportunity and a nation that loves basketball and big sporting events,” sabi ni Japan Basketball Association president and FIBA Central Board member Yuko Mitsuya.

Sinabi naman ni Indonesian Basketball Associa­tion chairman, SEABA president at FIBA Central Board member Erick Thohir na napakahalaga ng hos­ting ng 2023 FIBA World Cup sa kanila.

“As the world’s fourth most populous country with more than 260 million people, it’s an important time for Indonesia to realize the potential and exci­ting future for the development of basketball,” wika ni Thohir.