The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is ready to once again host a group in a FIBA competition.
Just a few months after hosting Groups A and B of the 2021 Asia Cup Qualifiers, the country will once again bring in a group this February. This time around, it will be Group A of the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers.
Due to the fluidity of the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, all the Group A games scheduled for the first two windows of the Qualifiers will be played this February 2022 in a province yet to be determined.
And for Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio, he and the federation are glad to welcome back Korea in the country while also welcoming New Zealand and India.
“The FIBA Regional Office Asia has been closely monitoring the pandemic situation in the region and they saw it fit to employ their right to hold the games in a bubble,” said Panlilio. “The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, because of the experience we gained in hosting the final window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers, volunteered to host the games in Group A.
“We’re excited to welcome Korea back into the country and host New Zealand and India as well.”
It can be recalled that Gilas faced Korea twice last June in the Asia Cup Qualifiers, sweeping both games.
Photo from FIBA.basketball
New Zealand last played in the Philippines during the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament-Manila while India’s national basketball team last visited in the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship.
“FIBA gave the SBP a commendation for the way we hosted the ACQ window and this led to their decision to take us up on our offer to host again this coming February,” said Panlilio.
“We’ll be hosting four teams in total, down from the seven the last time, so we’re confident that we could not only repeat what we accomplished but improve on it.”
The initial schedule had home-and-away meetings between New Zealand and India and Korea and the Philippines on November 25 and 28.
The second window features New Zealand versus Korea and India versus the Philippines on February 25. This will be followed by New Zealand going up against the Philippines and India taking on Korea on February 20.
