It’s all systems go now for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers Clark window.
The Inter-Agency Task Force has approved the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas’ request to host the regional meet this June in Clark, Pampanga.
“Inaprubahan din po ng inyong IATF ang request ng Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas na maghost ng International Basketball Federation, yung FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers sa June 2021 sa ilalim ng bubble-type setting sa Clark, Pampanga subject to health and safety protocols,” said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
The third window will be held in a bubble-type set-up in the very same venue the PBA used for the Philippine Cup last year — Quest Hotel for lodging and AUF Sports & Cultural Center for the games.
This is indeed good news for FIBA as the window got postponed a few times no thanks to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Groups to be hosted are A, B, and C.
Gilas, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand compose Group A, Group B consists of Chinese-Taipei, Japan, Malaysia, and China while C has Australia, New Zealand, Guam, and Hong Kong.
For the home team, Gilas face Korea on the 16th, Indonesia on the 19th, and Korea again on the 20th.
The remaining games of Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have not been scheduled.
The third window was originally set to take place last February in Clark but the SBP withdrew due to the implemented travel restrictions, and the hosting rights went to Doha.
However, the Qatari government ordered events to be cancelled due to the health crisis and the hosting eventually went back to the Philippines.
