MVP on World Cup hosting: Filipino fans deserve it

MANILA, Philippines — The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is counting the days before FIBA announces its choice as to which countries will host the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

“Less than two weeks and we will find out,” said SBP chairman Manny V. Pangilinan in anticipation of the decision from the world governing body in basketball.

For a change, FIBA has decided that the 2023 edition of the world championships will be staged and hosted by multiple countries.

There are only two bids left. The Philippines offered its bid together with Indonesia and Japan. The other bid is that of Argentina and Uruguay.

“We’re down to two – ourselves (with Indonesia and Japan) and Argentina with Uruguay,” said the SBP top honcho.

Al Panlilio, the SBP president, and Sonny Barrios, the executive director, are pulling all stops making sure everything goes well.

“We put up a very good bid. We’re keeping our fingers crossed,” said Pangilinan, awaiting the FIBA decision with “guarded optimism.”

The Philippines hosted the FIBA World Cup in 1978 while Indonesia is seeking its first hosting. Japan, a late partner in the bid, was host in 2006.

Argentina has hosted the event twice (1950 and 1990) while Uruguay had done it in 1967 or 50 years ago.

It’s anybody’s ballgame.

“I think the Filipinos deserve it. It’s for the country. It’s a great honor,” said  Pangilinan.

“If there’s anything, any legacy I’d like to leave to the sport of basketball it’s that the Philippines, after so many years, will be at the center of the world in the sport of basketball,” he said.

There’s just a couple of things going against the Philippines, which, only last year, lost to China in a tight race as host of the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

“The president of FIBA is Argentinian. So, I’m sure he’ll excuse himself,” said Pangilinan of Horacio Muratore, named FIBA chief in 2014.