FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark is a go

MANILA, Philippines — It's all systems go for the Philippines' hosting of the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Clark in June.

This after the IATF on Friday gave the green light for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to host the pocket tournament.

It was announced by Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The games in Clark City, which will play host to Groups A, B and C, will take place from June 16 to 20.

Gilas Pilipinas is in Group A where they are joined by Korea, Indonesia and Thailand.

Other nations expected to join the Clark bubble are Chinese Taipei, Japan, Malaysia, China, Australia, New Zeealand, Guam and Hong Kong.

Clark was initially going to host the qualifiers in February before travel restrictions forced SBP to forego such plan.

Doha stepped in to move the third window to Qatar after the Philippines pulled out, but it was later cancelled due to rising COVID-19 cases.

Apart from the FIBA qualifiers, the IATF gave go signals for the PBA to hold practices and scrimmages in areas under GCQ and MGCQ.

The PBA was supposed to open their 46th season in April, but the plan has since been postponed due to the COVID-19 surge in the country.