FORTY-FIVE years after the country last hosted the sport’s grandest stage, the International Basketball Federation World Cup found its way back to the basketball-crazy Philippines as the Central Board awarded the rights to three joint bidders—Philippines, Japan and Indonesia—late last Saturday in Geneva.
The three countries beat South American partners Argentina and Uruguay for the hosting rights of the 2023 World Cup. Russia and Turkey dropped their intentions in the process where the winning bidders will accommodate 32 teams.
Fiba President Horacio Muratore, an Argentine, said that it was a tough call for the Central Board as both groups made “outstanding work” to win the hosting task. It will be the first time that the quadrennial event will go to three locations.
“This was a very difficult decision as both candidatures were of exceptional quality,” Muratore told Fiba.com.
“We are very pleased to see national federations team up and put together bids of highest quality to host our World Cup,” he added added.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan, who led the contingent of the joint bidders from Asia, said the task of hosting an event of such magnitude will bring joy to the 500 million people living in the three countries.
“We are extremely happy that FIba has decided to award the hosting right for the Fiba Basketball World Cup 2013 to the Philippine, Japan and Indonesia. The World Cup is an event that fans of basketball in these three countries are very proud of and hosting it will allow to spread the basketball fever across the region,” Pangilinan said.
The SBP lost to superpower China in the 2015 bidding contest for the 2019 edition. It was a different story this time as the three partnering countries made an ambitious goal of taking the games into a wider audience.
They had a social-media campaign of #PlayLouderIn2023, which set the tone for an influx of support from sports fans.
The country plans to bring in half of the 32 teams in three locations—the 20,000-seater Mall of Asia Arena, 25,000-seater Smart Araneta Coliseum and the mammoth 55,000-seater Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Malacañang quickly relayed its congratulatory message as it vowed to pour out assistance to the hosting job.
“We thank everyone for their tireless dedication and hard work to make this hosting possible. It will be a great opportunity for basketball-loving country like the Philippines to show to the world our love for sports and our unity as people,” the Palace said in a statement.
The country last hosted the World Cup in 1978, losing all its games. Yugoslavia, now known as powerhouse Serbia, beat the Soviet Union in overtime, 82-81, to win the crown.
Image credits: AP