SBP recommits itself towards FIBA World Cup

Representing the Board of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas

Monday proved to be a hectic day for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, with the members of its board gathering to recommit themselves towards the 2023 edition of the FIBA World Cup, which the country is co-hosting alongside Japan and Indonesia this coming August 25 to September 10, 2023.

With Chairman Sonny Angara overseeing things, President Al Panlilio presented the plans for the staging and mounting of the quadrennial event, with the latter noting, "Showcasing the Philippines, this will be the biggest basketball event to be hosted in the country. Since 1978, we have not hosted a tournament of this magnitude."

A local organizing committee has been tasked to oversee preparations, with forty games to be played at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum and the SM Mall of Asia Arena in the qualifiers, with twelve games being played at the Philippine Arena.

There will also be activations that will take place in the runup to the World Cup, with the One Year to Go and Tissot Countdown Clock Launch on August 27 and the World Cup Draw this coming April. In addition, there will be a separate activities to unveil the official ball and the Opening Ceremonies.

Gilas Pilipinas head coach and Technical Director Chot Reyes was also present in the meeting and presented his roadmap for the squad heading into the tournament. The TNT Tropang Giga head coach  identified the best players from the various leagues here and abroad, with the idea of showing their readiness to impress in the World Cup.

With the Philippines having lost in the final of the SEA Games, not being able to make the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup, and only managing two wins in the previous round of qualifying, Gilas seeks to make amends to ensure a better showing as World Cup hosts. Reclaiming the gold in the SEA Games and a better showing in the upcoming windows in qualifying has been pegged by Reyes as an essential element for Gilas' preparations.

Local leagues have also committed to doing their share, led by the Philippine Basketball Association.

The oldest professional league in Asia is deviating from its normal schedule to ensure Gilas Pilipinas' readiness. The league will only have two conferences instead of their customary three, to ensure the national team will have ample time to build chemistry and familiarity

The two most prominent collegiate leagues in the country, the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), have committed to make sure student-athletes called up for national team duty will be made available when needed.

The SBP has also tapped Tim Cone and Goldwin Monteverde to join Reyes alongside Jong Uichico and Nenad Vucinic as assistant coaches.

"We only have 389 days from the actual tip-off and I do appeal to all the stakeholders in basketball to come together and really unify in this effort," said Panlilio.