FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 champion Germany, as well as Italy and New Zealand, joined Canada in lavishing praises on the Philippines for co-hosting the quadrennial tournament among the world’s best teams.
“For us at the German Embassy in Manila, it was with great pleasure that we followed the 2023 FIBA World Cup,” Germany’s First Secretary for Political Affairs Alexander Schmidt told the BusinessMirror.
“The Philippines as one of the three host countries has lived up to its reputation of being a very friendly, welcoming, and hospitable country,” Schimdt said. “Certainly, the positive atmosphere in Manila and the enthusiasm and love of Filipinos for this sport have helped the German basketball team to play such a successful tournament.”
Germany is a football country but its basketball team this year pulled a series of surprise wins in the Philippines—first by beating the favorite Team USA during the quarterfinals and clinching the World Cup crown against Serbia.
Italian Ambassador to Manila Marco Clemente said he watched almost all the FIBA matches in the Philippines and had a rare opportunity to assess the teams’ and the host’s performances.
“I know attending many international sports events in my life, organizing such a big event is not an easy task. You did a really good job,” Ambassador Clemente told BusinessMirror in a phone interview.
“Also, you hosted the final part of the tournament, which is under the scrutiny of the international federation, you did an excellent presentation. That was really impressive,” he added.
Italy reached the quarterfinals this year, its best-ever performance in 25 years in FIBA history.
“The results are not that exciting for our teams even though Italy ranked among the first eight. It was not a bad result,” Clemente said. “The expectation was a bit high. We actually beat Serbia, which reached the finals.”
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Embassy in Manila said the feedback from Basketball New Zealand (BNZ) on their experience in FIBA Manila was also positive.
“Based on the feedback of Mr. Dillon Boucher, Chief Executive of Basketball New Zealand [BNZ], shared that the Tall Blacks and everyone from BNZ team enjoyed their time in Manila,” the New Zealand Embassy said in an email message.
“Thank you to the host city of Manila for a fantastic experience in Philippines. From the moment the team arrived right until the moment we left we experienced the best hospitality from the LOC and it’s team. We loved our time in Manila and got a taste of the culture and also what basketball means to the local people. We look forward to returning to the Philippines again soon,” Boucher said in an email message to BusinessMirror.
New Zealand Ambassador Peter Kell couldn’t agree more.
“I wish to echo the voice of Basketball New Zealand and thank the city and people of Manila and the Philippine Basketball Association for welcoming so warmly and hosting so well the Tall Blacks during the Philippines’ recent FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. It was heart-warming to see and hear fans in the Philippines cheer on our Tall Blacks! Maraming salamat sa kanilang mga tagahanga at tagasuporta!” Ambassador Kell said.
“We commend them for a superb job in bringing the world’s top teams to the Philippines for some of the most exciting basketball games in history,” the Canadian embassy’s statement said.
