Erika Dy, the Deputy Event Director of the FIBA World Cup 2023, revealed that the local organizing committee (LOC) is now in the final phase of preparations for the upcoming global event, which will be co-hosted by the Philippines.
When asked about the progress of the LOC during the Special PSA Forum for the FIBA World Cup at the Meralco Function Hall, Dy shared that they have already achieved 95 percent preparedness, just 10 days before the World Cup begins on August 25.
However, Dy is not resting on her laurels just yet, as she believes that the remaining five percent will be the most crucial part of their preparation.
“In terms of percentage, I would say we’re at 95 percent. So, we’re almost there, but it’s important to note that the last five percent is comparable to the last two minutes of a basketball game. Even though it’s just five percent of a 40-minute game, those are the most important two minutes,” said Dy.
“So, I think that’s something we need to keep in mind. We’re nearly in plug-and-play mode. As I mentioned earlier, we’ve already entered the venues, so we have them under our care at this point. We’re setting them up to meet the standards that FIBA is expecting from us. That’s where we are right now,” she added.
The former Ateneo women’s basketball head coach explained that the remaining 10 days will primarily involve bringing everything together.
In the upcoming days, the LOC’s main focus will be placing the new backboards, competition lights, scoreboards, and flooring in position. They will also simulate traffic situations from the hotels to the arenas.
“It’s really about setting up at this point. We have all the materials, most of which were pre-fabricated, so it’s a matter of installing these items on the court. Obviously, we have a ten-day period to do that because we can’t do it all simultaneously. One step has to follow another; there’s a sequence to follow. That’s what we’re doing at this point,” Dy explained.
“They’re currently constructing the tribunes and all the areas within the venue. The last thing to be put in place will be the floor, and that should be completed towards the latter part of the week. The construction is being managed like a project, and it’s well-planned across the three venues. We have new floors, new backboards, and I believe Araneta has a new scoreboard. So, it’s going to be a different setup for the venues,” added SBP President Al Panlilio.
