Playing it louder in 2023

MANILA, Philippines — The greatest basketball show on earth will come to town in 2023, and from all indications, it will mark a record in attendance for the final game.  Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio figures to smash the FIBA World Cup mark of 35,000 set in the 1954 final between the US and Brazil at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro with the plan to hold the 2023 gold medal contest at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

The 1954 FIBA World Cup is significantly memorable in the history of Philippine basketball as it was in the tournament where the Philippines took third place for a bronze medal, the highest finish ever by an Asian country in the conclave. The first-ever World Cup was held in 1950 with 10 participating nations and this year, FIBA will stage the 18th edition in China on Aug. 31 to Sept. 15 with 32 national teams.

The Philippines made a bid to host the 2019 competition and was a finalist with China but despite a moving presentation that brought to light the passion and love of the Filipino for the game, lost in the vote, 14-7, by the FIBA Central Board. “It’s sad we lost the bid especially as even Yao Ming, the NBA legend, two-time Olympian and president of the Chinese Basketball Association, admitted we had a superior presentation,” said Panlilio.

Panlilio said SBP chairman emeritus and FIBA Central Board member Manny V. Pangilinan was determined to try again. “At first, we didn’t think we would stand a chance if we bid for 2023 because of the hosting cycle,” said Panlilio. “We didn’t think FIBA would support the idea of Asia hosting back-to-back World Cups. But Pangilinan felt waiting for 2027 would be too long.  So he decided to give 2023 a shot with an innovative proposal. Basketball Association president and co-FIBA Central Board member Erick Thohir, an Indonesian media mogul, to join the bid. He also broached the idea of cementing the consortium to Singapore. But since basketball isn’t a major sport in Singapore. FIBA itself suggested Japan as the third force, and the response was extremely positive. Okinawa was earmarked as a hosting site with a new stadium to be constructed in time for the games.

Several countries expressed an interest in bidding for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, but it came down to two finalists. One was the Asian Philippine-led consortium, and the other was a joint bid by Argentina and Uruguay. The final presentations were held at the FIBA headquarters in Switzerland in late 2017 and then-FIBA secretary-general Patrick Baumann stepped in to suggest a win-win solution to settle the issue.

The consortium’s bid was anchored on the principles of simplicity, diversity, and intensity with the slogans, “The Power of Three” and “Play It Louder Than Ever.” For the record, it will be the fourth World Cup staged in Asia after the Philippines in 1978, Japan in 2006 and China this year.

Panlilio said winning the bid provides the platform for the Philippines to showcase its capability to host a global tournament. “We can prove we are world-class,” he said. “Basketball is our No. 1 sport. It may not be the right sport for us, but we love the game.  Basketball is intrinsic to us, it’s part of our lives, it’s what we talk about in social media, in the workplace, in the community, in our family.  For us to host the FIBA World Cup is a testament to our love of the game and our ability to stage a tournament of this magnitude.”

Panlilio said so far, three venues have been identified for the 2023 competition — the Philippine Arena, MOA Arena, and Smart Araneta Coliseum.

To assemble a competitive national team is another priority for 2023. “We’re considering Kai Sotto and A.J. Edu to bolster our team but pros like JuneMar Fajardo and R.R. Pogoy will still be in their prime,” said Panlilio. “We’ll also consider recruiting another naturalized player since Andray (Blatche) will be 36 by then. What we hope to resolve by then is our appeal for FIBA to reconsider the eligibility rule where foreign-born players are allowed to represent a country only if they were issued passports before turning 16.

Panlilio said it was suggested by Baumann last year to bring back the previous FIBA rule allowing a national team to recruit two naturalized players.

“Baumann brought it up to MVP, but he remarked that it wouldn’t be necessary if only FIBA would allow foreign-born players to represent a country showing only their passports regardless of when they were issued,” he said. “The SBP has even raised the possibility of DNA testing to prove an athlete’s ethnic roots as a basis to determine eligibility as a national player. Baumann called it a creative approach. But why not?  More than just a passport, heritage should be the basis for eligibility as a national player,” he added.

Panlilio said since Baumann’s passing last year, Greek lawyer Andreas Zagklis has taken over as FIBA secretary-general.

Panlilio said after the World Cup this year, the Joint Marketing Council for the 2023 edition will hit the ground running.

“Our deep love for basketball, our passion for the sport, is unequaled anywhere in the world.  Basketball flows through our blood, pulses through our veins, and animates our hearts.  Basketball is what defines and unites us. We will play louder than ever,” MVP said.

Panlilio said the consortium’s total population was a key reason in winning the bid. “It didn’t matter that Asia would once again host the World Cup after 2019 in China,” he said. “What’s on FIBA’s mind is how to grow the game globally, and there are many more markets to tap in Asia.”

When FIBA finally announced who would host, it was reported that the hashtag #PlayLouderIn2023 — the consortium’s battle cry in the bidding war — had reached over 1.3 billion impressions on Twitter. The social media attention given to the Philippines’ crusade to bring basketball home was phenomenal and totally unprecedented.

It was the culmination of a long journey that led to Pangilinan’s dream coming true.

“You should have seen how pleased the FIBA Central Board was to award the bid to us and to feel their very warm response to our bid team — hugs, handshakes, smiles, pats on the back, words of encouragement all around. I was extremely proud to be Filipino at that moment,” said MVP.

For the Philippines, the opportunity to rewrite basketball history will come in 2023 when the FIBA World Cup comes home.