Sign of things to come
The Malacañang Palace lauded the efforts of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas for bringing world basketball back home for the 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers.
“Winning the bid to host the FIBA 2023 World Cup together with Japan and Indonesia marks the country’s re-emergence and rising prominence in the world of international sports,” Communications secretary Martin Andanar released in a statement.
“We can expect this to spur tourism even further, and provide added stimulus for businesses as well as investments.”
The Philippines will co-host the tournament together with Japan and Indonesia.
Present during the announcement in FIBA’s House of Basketball in Switzerland were SBP chairman emiritus Manny V. Pangilinan, SBP president Al Panlilio, Indonesian National Olympic Committee president Erick Thohir, and President of the Japanese Basketball Association president Yuko Mitsuya.
The last time the Philippines hosted this tournament was back in 1978, with only 14 teams competing. Fast forward 35 years, and the tournament has grown to include 32 teams.
With this, the SBP, the JBA, and the PERBASI are looking to work closely to make this World Cup louder like ever before.
“The work with Japan and Indonesia starts today,” said Pangilinan, who is the president of SMART Communications.
“I’m sure at the end of the day it will be an excellent tournament for all three countries and for FIBA and for world basketball.”
“I think it’s a good partnership for three countries,” added Thonir. “And as we know Indonesia and Philippines are among the fastest growing countries in Southeast Asia now.
“So I really see there being good cooperation for Indonesia, Philippines and also Japan.”
“We need to communicate regularly with Philippines and Indonesia and think about not just Japan succeeding in 2023 but all three countries,” stressed Mitsuya.
On their part, the Philippine government will do whatever it can to make the event not just a success, but to make it memorable
“Together, let us make the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines a great success,” said Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque.
