Determined to resume its competitions amidst the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, FIBA will also use a bubble-type format for the next two windows of all its continental cup qualifiers across the world.
Basketball’s governing body made the announcement on Friday. With this, the 2021 Asia Cup Qualifiers — which Gilas Pilipinas competes in — will take place in such a set-up for its November and February windows.
The following recommendations came from the Medical Commission and the Competitions Commission for the resumption of the tournament.
First, that all the games of both windows should be conducted in ‘bubbles’, instead of home and away games. The host’s public health authorities must be in agreement, and the host must comply with FIBA health protocols (including PCR testing and controlled entry into a secure environment in the competition city).
Secondly, each ‘bubble’ will consist of 4 to 8 teams (one or two qualification groups). The hosts will be decided at regional level and will be announced in due course.
The Filipino dribblers are in Group A together with rivals South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia, which it beat 100-70 last February 23 in its only game of the Asia Cup Qualifiers so far.
Gilas was supposed to face the Thais last February 18, but saw the match postponed due to the outbreak. Currently, it is second in the standings with a 1-0 card, behind the 2-0 SoKor.
Originally, Gilas would have faced the Koreans on November 27 on the road and then Thailand three days later. It would then battle the Indonesians again at home on February 18, and Korea on the 21st.
A total of three ACQ games were postponed last February due to the coronavirus outbreak. FIBA has yet to set dates for those matches.
