Philippines among finalists for right to host FIBA World Cup

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines, through the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, once again made the final selection process for the FIBA World Cup hosting rights.

The bidding war for the rights to host the 2023 World Cup is now down between the joint bids of Philippines/Japan/Indonesia and Argentina/Uruguay.

Out of the race are the single host nation bids of Russia and Turkey.

"We are pleased to announce Argentina/Uruguay and Indonesia/Japan/Philippines as the final two candidates in the running to host the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023,” said FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann in a Fiba.com report.

“In recent years, we have seen the way in which several countries teaming up to stage our biggest tournaments has been successful. This was the case at the last two editions of the FIBA EuroBasket as well as at FIBA AfroBasket 2017 and the FIBA AmeriCup 2017,” Baumann also said.

“We are fully confident this formula will also work to great effect for our flagship competition. Furthermore, these are countries with rich basketball traditions and passionate fans."

The two bidders will present their candidatures to the FIBA central board on December 9. The winning bidder will be announced on the same day, following a vote by the central board.

The Philippines was also a finalist the last time, barely losing the 2019 WC hosting rights to China.

The SBP is hopeful to gain the 2023 event with its novel offer to host the FIBA premier event with neighbor countries Japan and Indonesia.

The Filipinos, the Indons and the Japanese are banking heavily on their fast-growing region — home to more than 500 million people — to win the hosting rights.

Playing venues in Quezon City, Pasay, Pasig, Bocaue, Jakarta and Okinawa were the proposed sites in the bid of SBP and its counterpart federations in Indonesia and Japan.

SBP is obviously presenting the Smart Araneta Coliseum, the Mall of Asia Arena, PhilSports Arena and the Philippine Arena.