Philippines hosting of FIBA World Cup takes off

MANILA, Philippines — The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is ramping up its preparations for the country’s co-hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup (FBWC) 2023 with Japan and Indonesia after the completion of the Strategic Planning Session of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC).

Planning for the world’s premier basketball tournament already started immediately after FIBA announced that the joint bid of the three Asian countries was selected over the Argentina-Uruguay bid in December of 2017. This included visits to different venues in China for their hosting of the 2019 World Cup.

The day-and-a-half planning session held last weekend at the Mount Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas, formalized the completion of the LOC with the gathering of personalities, all experts in their respective fields, working closely together to host the best World Cup in history.

The event was attended by the top brass of the SBP led by Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan, president Al Panlilio, executive director Sonny Barrios, executive advisor to the president Ricky Vargas and special assistant to the president Ryan Gregorio.

With constant coordination with the FIBA Office in Geneva, Switzerland, the LOC bared the plans and requirements for all of the three primary divisions, particularly operations, support, and the FIBA World Congress.

Ramon Suzara, the author and chief implementor of the FBWC 2023 Master Plan, introduced the rationale and core concepts of the undertaking while deputy event director Erika Dy discussed the vision, mission, and objectives.

According to Panlilio, the planning session will be crucial to the success of the SBP’s hosting of the World Cup as it was important for all the LOC members to be on the same page. He added the task may be daunting but everyone is ready to step up to the challenge.