Leading mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. brings high-stakes basketball action and the chance to rally behind our Gilas Pilipinas Men right at the palm of your hands for the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Qualifiers beginning June 12 at 9 pm.
Catch Iran go up against Qatar in the first game, Saturday at 9 pm. Meanwhile, Gilas debuts its 2021 lineup against familiar archrival South Korea on June 16 at 6 pm.
“Filipino basketball fans like myself have waited a long time for this, and we are just as excited to have international basketball in our country again.
“We know at Smart that physical homecourt support is still not possible at this time, but we can maximize our virtual homecourt advantage by rallying behind our national team online,” said PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio.
“We made sure that the game we all love makes it to the palm of every Smart subscriber’s hand. This, of course, is made more special because we finally get to see our very own Gilas Pilipinas play for flag on the world basketball stage once again.”
The Philippine team will also face Indonesia on June 18 at 6 pm. It then wraps up its FIBA Asia assignment for this window vs South Korea again on June 20 at 3 pm.
Other games that will be aired on gigafest.smart are:
June 12 – Iran vs Qatar (9 pm);
June 13 – Hong Kong vs Guam (9 pm);
June 16 – Japan vs China (2:30 pm) and Philippines vs South Korea (6 pm);
June 17 – South Korea vs Indonesia (2:30 pm) and Chinese Taipei vs China (6 pm);
June 18 – Japan vs Chinese Taipei (2:30 pm) and Philippines vs Indonesia (6 pm);
June 19 – China vs Japan (2:30 pm) and Thailand vs South Korea (6 pm);
June 20 – Indonesia vs Thailand (11:30 pm), Philippines vs South Korea (3pm), and China vs Chinese Taipei (6:30 pm).
The games will be held at the Clark Bubble in Pampanga.
The Philippines currently leads Group A with a 3-0 record followed by Korea with 2-0. Meanwhile, Indonesia and Thailand are level with 1-2 records each.
Only two teams from each group will advance to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup, set in August and hosted by Indonesia.
