Gilas Women ready for FIBA Women's World Cup Pre-Qualifier participation

Gilas Women

The Philippines is set to make history again tonight, when its senior women's national team makes its debut at the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Pre-Qualifying Tournament.

Ranked 40th in the world, Gilas Women earned their spot in the competition with their sixth place finish at the 2023 edition of the FIBA Women's Asia Cup.

The ladies have been bracketed into Group C, one of two groups slated to play in Kigali, Rwanda. Alongside them are three teams in the Top 25 in Brazil (8th), Hungary (16th), and Senegal (25th). Also playing in Kigali are four teams that comprise Group D: hosts Rwanda, Lebanon, Great Britain, and Argentina.

Acknowledged as likely underdogs in this competition, which offers a spot in the FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup Qualifying Tournament next year to the top finisher, the squad helmed by Patrick Aquino are aware that continuing improvements will entail facing off against top quality opposition.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director Erika Dy shares, "Moving up the rankings means we’ll have to learn how to step outside our comfort zone. Our Women’s Team has shown us they can be competitive in the region but there’s still a lot of work to be done to reach the next level. Joining competitions like this and going up against highly-ranked opponents will only make our players better and give our program a clear idea on what we need to do to get better."

Gilas Women will rely on a couple of National University alumnae to hold down the fort in Afril Bernardino and Jack Animam.

Aquino says about the former, "Known for her athleticism and relentlessness to win, Afril is one of the best players I have seen in the country. Her constant will to learn and determination to work harder than anybody else has made her who she is now."

As for the latter, she averaged a near double-double with ten points and 9.6 rebounds last June, helping the Philippines escape relegation into Division B.

Providing shooting and veteran leadership are Khate Castillo and Janine Pontejos, with a couple of players having US collegiate experience in Ella Fajardo and Stephanie Berberabe.

Fajardo leads the youth movement in the side, with half the team still playing collegiate basketball or about to make their debut there.

Fajardo is now a senior at Iona, with Kristan Yumul spending her freshman season last year in the NAIA with Westmont College. Naomi Panganiban is an incoming freshman at San Diego State.

In UAAP Season 86, Lou Ozar helped power the University of the Philippines back into the postseason, and she now will get help with Camille Nolasco for this coming campaign. Serving as a potential foil there is last season's Most Valuable Player Kacey dela Rosa of the Ateneo de Manila University.

The Philippines will face off against Brazil on August 19 at 8pm. This will be followed with a showdown against Hungary on August 20 at 11pm. They cap off their group stage assignment against Senegal on August 22 at 5pm.

All of the games will be shown on FIBA's YouTube channel.

SM Mall of Asia hosts FIBA WC Fan Zone

FIBA WC Local Ambassadors Gabe Norwood and Jeff Chan, with SMART's Jude Turcuato and SBP's Sonny Barrios

With the start of the 2023 edition of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, fans also will have the chance to partake of the action, even if they don't have tickets to the games.

A FIBAWC Fan Zone has been established at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay City, a simple walking distance to the Mall of Asia Arena.

Open since the start of the competition last Friday, the Fan Zone will provide mall visitors a myriad of options to enjoy the FIBA World Cup, whether basketball or entertainment.

Interactive booths from the competition's global partners and local sponsors are strewn across the Music Hall, with basketball arcade machines, shooting activities and challenges, among others.

Star celebrity sighting are in store for meet and greet sessions and photo opportunities, with raffle prizes are also in play.

Official FIBA Basketball World Cup merchandise are also available, as well as a chance to buy tickets to the games scheduled to take place at the Mall of Asia Arena.

It's also set up to host viewing parties for games taking place at co-hosts Okinawa and Jakarta.

The FIBAWC Fan Zone is open throughout the duration of the FIBA World Cup, between August 25 until September 10. On weekdays, it is open from 1-10pm, with an 11am-10pm operating hours on weekends.

Cignal ready for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 coverage

With the highest level of national team basketball about to commence starting August 25, Cignal TV is prepared for the coverage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 until the final day on September 10.

The media entity is set to bring the most comprehensive multi-platform coverage, whether Pay-Per-View, free-to-air, Pay TV, or even online.

Cignal TV president and CEO Jane Basas shares, "It is a great honor for Cignal TV to be the official broadcaster delivering the most extensive coverage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 to every Filipino, wherever they are in the country. We are fully committed to utilizing the entire Cignal ecosystem to give nothing but the most seamless, captivating, and memorable FIBA World Cup viewing experience to all basketball fans who want to be part of this historic global tournament."

Both Cignal and SatLite will be offering Pay-Per-View specific channels for the tournament, while games will be shown on free-to-air channels TV5 and One Sports, as well as Pay TV counterparts One Sports+ and PBA Rush. Pilipinas Live is the preferred route if you want to watch the tournament online or on mobile.

For our very own Gilas Pilipinas, matches will be shown LIVE on One Sports, with same-day telecast on TV5 and next-day catch-up on PBA Rush. If Team USA is one's preference, games will be on Pilipinas LIVE and Cignal PPV. Cignal will also have select games aired either catch-up or next day airing on One Sports or One Sports+. All 92 World Cup games will be shown LIVE on Cignal Pay-Per-View and Pilipinas Live, with the latter also offering on-demand telecast, as well as multiple viewing options, exclusive content and interactive features with certain matchups.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls joins FIBA World Cup Fever

If one can't be able to make it to any of the local venues for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, which commences on August 25, one solution is to watch it at a bar, with friends.

Some options for the public to consider were revealed today, as eleven establishments in places within Megaworld Lifestyle Malls locations have confirmed that they will host such events.

Here are the locations where fans can troop to and gather:

●    121, Eastwood City
●    Agave, Eastwood City
●    Bills Lounge, Eastwood City
●    Frankies, Eastwood City
●    Rue, Eastwood City
●    Reserve, Forbes Town
●    Tipsy Pig, Forbes Town
●    Bugsy’s, Paseo Parkview Suites
●    El Calle Food & Music Hall, Newport World Resorts
●    Buffalo Wild Wings, Uptown Bonifacio
●    Whisky Park, Venice Grand Canal at McKinley Hill

For Bugsy's in particular, they are also integrating their own brand of entertainment, as DJ from Magic 89.9 will be pumping in the beats starting 1030pm. The other venues will also have their own specific brand of activation activities to complement the basketball action slated on Friday, highlighted by the Philippines vs Dominican Republic.

Megaworld Lifestyle Malls head Graham Coates shares, "This is quite momentous for the Philippines as it is only the second time that they are hosting this big event. It’s also a great moment to share with everyone that we have top-notch pubs and sports bars who will cater to not just the basketball fan, but to sports fans in general and let them taste the world."

Doncic, Clarkson feature in "Nothing Else Matters" campaign

Nothing Else Matters

With the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 just days away, the federation launched a new global creative campaign.

Called "Nothing Else Matters," it features a select group of players that are set to feature in the World Cup, including Slovenian superstar Luka Dončić and three Asian cogs in Zhou Qi of China, Jordan Clarkson of the Philippines, and Yuta Watanabe of Japan.

Developed by UK agency Be Media and directed by Will Clark Smith, it merges the personal off-season hobbies of these four ballers with their unique on-court talent.

Scenes were shot at specific locations connected to each of their paths: Ljubljana for Dončić, San Antonio for Clarkson, Miyazaki for Watanabe, and Qingdao for Qi.

Using state-of-the-art filming techniques combined with computer-generated imagery allowed for smooth transition for each player from their personal leisure time into the intensity of a basketball battle. With fusion of action, basketball skills, and stunning locations, the outcome is an exciting and kinetic film that highlights the #NothingElseMatters message.

Here is Luka's portion of the video.

The 2023 iteration of the FIBA World Cup starts on August 25, with the final scheduled on September 10 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Local fans will be able to watch the games through Cignal TV as its official Philippine broadcast partner. Games will be made available on free-to-air, Pay TV, PPV, and OTT streaming via Pilipinas Live. Aside from there, it will also be shown through SMART Livestream and Courtside 1891.

Naismith Trophy set for local tour

Naismith Trophy Tour

The most important basketball trophy is set to make its local rounds.

The Naismith Trophy, which is awarded to the champion of the FIBA World Cup, is set to make its arrival to the Philippines, and will be going around the country before the start of the actual competition, the final phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Trophy Tour Presented by J9.basketball.

Accompanying the Naismith Trophy are a few local FIBA World Cup Ambassadors, complemented with a touch of entertainment acts.

Set to arrive on August 14 in Cebu, the activities in the Queen City of the South commence with the trophy checking out the Mactan Shrine, CCLEX, and Fort San Pedro in the morning. In the afternoon, it will be at SM Seaside Cebu, where Gary David and Jeff Chan will be present, along with the University of Cebu Cheering Team and 2010 Sinulog Idol Grand Winner Jacky Chang performing.

The Naismith Trophy then heads to Davao on the 16th, with stops at the People's Park, the Philippine Eagle Center, and the Malagos Chocolate Museum. On the 18th, it will be at the SM Lanang Premier with David and Jayson Castro. Performing that day are the Madayaw Cheer Revolution Cheetahs, Fusion dance group, and Ralph Angelo Merced.

On August 19, the Naismith Trophy heads to Manila, where it will make the rounds at the three venues of the FIBA World Cup in the country: the Philippine Arena, the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, and the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The next day will feature Larry Fonacier and the other Gilas Ambassadors at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium, with the UP Pep Squad, and Electro Groovers, fresh from their gold-medal winning performance at the World of Dance Junior Championship, are set to perform.

The final stop of the tour will be in Ilocos Norte from August 21-23, where it will be displayed at the EDC Wind Farm, Kapurpurawan Rock Formation, and the Suba Sand Dunes. Alongside the Gilas Ambassadors, the trophy's final mall stop will be Robinsons Place Ilocos Norte, where the Saguday Performing Arts Group and the "Princess Rapper of the North" Faifai Flojo will be performing.

Competition proper begins on August 25 at the Philippine Arena and the SM Mall of Asia Arena, with Angola vs Italy and Pilipinas vs Dominican Republic at the former and Mexico vs Montenegro and Egypt vs Lithuania at the latter.

Tickets are available at the following locations:

For games at the Philippine Arena and SMART-Araneta Coliseum: ticketnet.com.ph. or at ticket outlets located at the Yellow Gate of the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, Fishermall, Eastwood Mall, SM Aura, SM Fairview, SM Makati, SM Manila, SM North EDSA, SM Megamall, SM San Lazaro, SM Southmall, SM Sta Mesa, SM Mall of Asia, SM Marikina, and Robinsons Department Store Galleria.

For games at the SM Mall of Asia Arena: smtickets.com, or at ticket outlets located at the Coral Box Office of SM Mall of Asia Arena, SM Cinemas at SM Aura, Clark, Bacolod, Davao, Baguio, Grand Central, Cebu, Manila, Batangas, Iloilo, Marilao, Megamall, BF, Lanang, North EDSA, Podium, Cagayan de Oro, Sta Rosa, and Southmall; SM Store Business Center outlets at SM Cubao, Mall of Asia, and Makati; and at the SM Skating and Leisure Center at SM Mall of Asia.

SBP forges partnership with Arena Plus with Cignal TV

From left to right: Eric Centeno – Vice President and Head of Content Innovations and Solutions for CignalTV, Sonny Barrios – Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Executive Director and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Philippines Local Event Director, Mr. Andy Tsui – President of DigiPlus Interactive Corporation and Mr. Jasper Vicencio - President of ArenaPlus.

A new partnership has been forged for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, as the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Cignal TV, and ArenaPlus joined forces.

The deal was formalized at the Cignal Experience Center of the Launchpad Building in Mandaluyong last August 8.

In making this announcement, DigiPlus Interactive Corporation President Mr. Andy Tsui shares, "As a leading leisure entertainment provider in the country, our commitment is unwavering – we strive to offer quality entertainment that's accessible and affordable for all, regardless of your social status."

From the SBP perspective, Executive Director and Philippines Local Event Director Mr. Sonny Barrios is elated with the partnership, noting that he had sought additional assistance in particular to the women's side given their recent movements abroad. The NSA already has a previous partnership in place with ArenaPlus as Gilas Pilipinas' Official Sportsbook Partner.

As for Cignal, according to Vice President and Head of Content Innovations and Solutions Eric Centeno, the World Cup partnership is the start of a long collaboration, as the deal will last until 2025, including the Asian Games later this year and next year's Paris Olympics.

ArenaPlus president Mr. Jasper Vicencio echoed these sentiments. He says, "I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for trusting ArenaPlus and giving us the opportunity to support GILAS Pilipinas. I can't wait for more fruitful engagements with this incredible team in the next two years. And as they say in GILAS, 'Puso,' as we promise to put our hearts into this partnership."

Single Game Tickets Now Available for FIBA World Cup

Filipino basketball fans will have the chance to check out the best basketball in the world, as the local organizers of the 2023 edition of the FIBA World Cup has now made available for purchase single game tickets.

Fans will have the chance to buy tickets for as low as PhP 499, with the most expensive tickets varying from just over PhP 11,099 to as high as PhP 27,299.

Tickets for games at the Mall of Asia Arena can be had via SM Tickets, while Ticketnet handles the ones at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, as well as the Philippine Arena, where the opening doubleheader between Angola and Italy and hosts Philippines against Dominican Republic will take place.

A musical performance featuring select Filipino artists will take place in between the Philippine Arena doubleheader.

Meanwhile, serving as the opening double-header at the MOA Arena is Mexico-Montenegro, followed by Egypt-Lithuania.

The next day will see the first set of matches at the Big Dome, featuring South Sudan and Puerto Rico and Serbia against China, while the MOA Arena will have Jordan-Greece and the United States versus New Zealand.

Gilas Pilipinas will face Angola for its first match at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum on August 27.

With the event ever creeping closer, the players are also reflecting similar moods.

Dwight Ramos shares, "Ever since I was included in the 23 for 2023 list back in 2018, playing in the World Cup has been the dream. Everything I’ve done as a player, all the work I’ve put in, leads to that moment."

Jamie Malonzo adds, "I’ve had the pleasure of playing at the Philippine Arena for Ginebra with more than 50,000 fans, and it was unbelievable. I don’t think having the World Cup at home again will happen in our lifetime, so I hope the fans come out and support us. I think it’s going to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone."

MOA Arena to host FIBA World Cup Final Phase

FIBA released a statement on Friday, swapping the Final Phase of matches originally scheduled for the Philippine Arena in Bulacan to the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.

Statement is as follows:

The final stage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will now be played at the Mall of Asia Arena. This was announced earlier today by FIBA, moving the games of the Final Phase that were earlier scheduled for the Philippine Arena.

“The priority that led to this decision is the experience of our fans. This is in service of the Filipino basketball fan, as well as those arriving from all over the world,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.

“We thank our brothers and sisters from the Iglesia ni Cristo and the Philippine Arena Management, specifically, for being a true partner in this endeavor and we appreciate their support of the final decision that was reached.”

The Group Phase will still be played at the Mall of Asia Arena, Araneta Coliseum, Okinawa Arena, and Indonesia Arena, but the Final Phase will be exclusively played in the Pasay venue.

The Philippine Arena, however, will be the venue as Gilas Pilipinas plays its first FIBA Basketball World Cup game at home in 45 years. On August 25, the Philippine team will open its campaign in the World Cup and a game of this magnitude could only be held inside the world’s largest indoor arena.

“The main consideration leading to the decision was the requirement to provide consistent and swift transfer for the teams and fans to multiples games over the six days of the Final Phase. Despite improvements tested with transport and traffic engineers, the Board came to the conclusion that an event with multiple sessions in one day like the Final Phase of the World Cup must be delivered to the standards required for the players and fans experience.” said David Crocker, Executive Director for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

As an assurance to those who have already secured their tickets, appropriate emails will be sent individually informing them of the venue change and further continued advice as to their tickets and seats.

The final details as to which affected matches of Gilas Pilipinas will be revealed with the result of the World Cup draw on Saturday night.

Unilab enters into FIBA World Cup partnership

From L-R: Sunshine Aquino – Assistant Vice President, Unilab, Kathrine Margaret Claire Martinez – Division Vice President, Unilab, Jose Antonio Evangelista – Operating Vice President, Unilab, JIP – FBWC23 official mascot, John Lucas – Head of Operations, JMC PH, Joseph Barrios – Head of Marketing, JMC PH

The 2023 iteration of the FIBA World Cup gets another partner, as the leading pharmaceutical healthcare company in the Philippines, Unilab, has stepped in to be a major local sponsor of the event.

To mark this occasion, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and President Alfredo S. Panlilio welcomed the organization, represented by Assistant Vice President Sunshine Aquino, Division Vice President Kathrine Margaret Claire Martinez, and Operating Vice President Jose Antonio Evangelista, with a simple ceremony.

MVP shares, "We welcome UNILAB to this prestigious event that will be followed by nations throughout the world. This partnership will go a long way in ensuring the success of our country’s efforts to co-host this grand event, a national endeavor if ever there was one since this marks only the second time in our history that we will be staging a world basketball championship."

Panlilio adds, "We thank UNILAB for agreeing to be part of this once in a lifetime experience, and to share in this global activity, this journey which in a sense is truly a merger of world caliber sports and big business. We at SBP stand proudly with UNILAB in declaring our steadfast commitment to the Filipino people and to our national players in forging one of the most successful FIBA World Cups ever." He also paid tribute to UNILAB’S sense patriotism and generosity in coming to the aid of the national team and of the overall effort to promote the country to the whole world as a shining example of leadership, organization and hospitality.

From Unilab's perspective, Corporate Vice President Alexander S. Panlilio says, "partnering with the FBWC23, and being able to support our local athletes as they go up to compete against the best in the world, is an irresistible call. Who better to support our Filipino athletes than fellow Filipinos like UNILAB? Our mission is to care for them — as manifested in our company slogan Alagang UNILAB — and this is one way to do that."

FIBA World Cup Executive Director David Crocker notes, "In order for something as huge as the FIBA Basketball World Cup to be successful, it must have great partnerships such as this. We welcome UNILAB on board and look forward to working closely with them in the lead up to basketball’s biggest international event."

To commemorate the partnership, Unilab's Alaxan brand has been designated as the Official Body Pain Reliever of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Trusted by Filipinos for over fifty years, [Ibuprofen + Paracetamol] Alaxan has been championing Filipino athletes and everyday warriors. For the FIBA World Cup, Alaxan will enable the athletes to perform at maximum level during the games, reaching up to their full potential and rallying behind them to success.

Luis Scola named as FIBA World Cup Global Ambassador

 

Luis Scola

The World Cup gets its first international global ambassador, with FIBA naming Luis Scola for the honor.

The Argentine legend will help promote the World Cup, which starts on August 25 across three countries: main co-host the Philippines, and fellow co-hosts Japan and Indonesia. That includes activities taking place in the run-up to the competition, like the upcoming Draw Ceremonies slated for April.

As one of the members of the "Global Generation," Scola appeared in five iterations of the World Cup/World Championships, with his 41 games played tied for the most appearances alongside Ubiratan Pereira Maciel of Brazil. His total of 716 points is second all-time in the competition in scoring.

He made his debut in Indianapolis back in 2002, when it was still called the World Championships, helping Argentina make it to the finals before they fell short in overtime to Yugoslavia.

Fresh from winning the Olympics in Athens, Scola averaged 14.3 points and seven rebounds on 55.3% shooting as Argentina made a run to the semifinals in the 2006 edition in Japan, where they fell short to Spain, 75-74.

In Turkey for the 2010 edition, Scola topped the competition in scoring with 27.1 points per game, buoyed by a 37-point performance against Brazil in the Round of 16.

His fourth appearance came in 2014, with the tournament being rebranded into its current World Cup nomenclature. He averaged 19.5 points in Seville, including a 30-point outburst in the group phase against Croatia and a 19-point output against then-World Cup debutants Gilas Pilipinas.

At the age of 40, he made his final World Cup appearance in the 2019 edition, and still showed he still got it in China by being named to the TISSOT All-Star Five. That included a 28-point, 13-rebound performance in an 80-66 triumph over France in the semifinals.

Scola also played in five Olympics, making the semifinals in 2008 and 2012, winning the bronze in Beijing. He served as Argentina's flagbearer in the 2016 edition at Rio de Janeiro, before playing his final edition at Tokyo last year.

The former Houston Rocket was a force in continental competition, being named as a FIBA AmeriCup Most Valuable Player four times (2007, 2009, 2011, 2015). He helped Argentina to a podium spot nine times in the tournament.

He shares about the announcement: "I'm truly honored to be a World Cup Global Ambassador and to take on this new role. I always wanted to represent Argentina, to sing the national anthem before games and to play alongside so many amazing players, and for great coaches. We always set out to win tournaments, but the most important thing was to give our best, to be good role models and to play for our country. Being part of our Golden Generation with so many amazing players has also been a very special experience. To play every summer was also a priority because it helped me maintain my fitness for the following season. We had amazing victories. While there were some disappointing results, we won a lot more than we lost and learned many life lessons along the way. Maybe the biggest was that with perseverance, togetherness and a shared vision, a team can achieve more than is expected. If all players, all teams, take that approach next year, this is going to be another unforgettable World Cup across the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia."

FIBA World Cup 2023 co-hosts make their initial picks

Fans have a slight idea on which team is headed where in the 2023 iteration of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, with the co-hosts picking preferred teams to be in their respective domains.

The decision of Central Board illustrates that the United States will be in one of four groups playing in the Philippines, once they lock in their spot after the final window of qualifying. It is a move done based on commercial reasons, with neither impact on the tournament's integrity or the process for the draw.

The corresponding move by fellow co-hosts Japan and Indonesia will see Slovenia headed to Okinawa to be a part of one of two groups, with Canada off to Jakarta, also as part of one of two groups. Both countries have already locked in their spot in the competition.

Once the final window of qualifying has been completed in the end of February, the complete Draw Principles for the World Cup will be established. One aspect of the draw, which will take place in Manila on April 29, has already been confirmed, as the Philippines is already assured in a spot in Pot 1 alongside the top teams in the FIBA rankings. In the process, it ensures Gilas Pilipinas will not be in the same group as the defending Olympics 5x5 champions.

Once the groups have been determined, Day Passes and single-game tickets will be made available for purchase.

FIBA Basketball World Cup mascot unveiled

Get the chance to name the 2023 FIBA World Cup mascot

FIBA on late Thursday unveiled the mascot for the 2023 edition of the World Cup, one that has yet to be named.

The mascot is an offshoot of the shared vision between the three host countries: the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Three young fans from the host countries: Caloy (Philippines), Kota (Japan), and Dewi (Indonesia), met online and collaborated on a design that would represent the three hosts while also unite basketball fans worldwide.

The mascot is a robot programmed to be fun, friendly, and sporty. Armed with terrific dribbling skills and a supersonic dunk, it is set to promote next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup worldwide while sharing its love for basketball towards as many people as possible. Its face is an LED screen which would allow it to communicate in different languages, whilst being adorned by the colors of the hosts' flags.

At the same time, the mascot is geared towards environmental awareness, particularly about recycling, thanks to the hoop attached at the back of its head.

In a move to elicit fan participation, FIBA is having a naming competition for the mascot until June 30, with an official Molten ball up for grabs for the lucky winner. Once named, the mascot will travel across the three host nations to build up more attention for the competition.

Richard Carrion, Chairman of the Joint Management Committee for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 said: "This FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be a unique event, hosted for the first time by three nations, and we wanted a brand new concept for the mascot, not only to celebrate and entertain but also to carry a very important message in today's world."

Ticket for FIBA WCQ February window set for sale

The Samahang Baaketbol ng Pilipinas announced that tickets for the upcoming FIBA World Cup 2023 Qualifiers will be available for purchase starting February 17.

Set to take place at the SMART-Araneta Coliseum, ticket distribution will be handled by TicketNet, both onsite at its different outlets as well as online through www.ticketnet.com.ph.

Lower Box tickets will cost PhP 500, with Upper Box priced at PhP 200 (pending additional fees).

Additional requirements imposed by the IATF for the upcoming window include:

• Fans need to be at least twelve years old
• Fully vaccinated (must bring vaccination card and an additional valid ID)
• Mandatory face mask wearing
• No food allowed in audience area, but can be availed at the coliseum concourse.

Also, the Quezon City local government also requires the use of the Kyusi Pass in order to enter the venue, whether one is a resident or not.

Group A play for the Asian Qualifiers start on February 24 and will last until February 28.

24: 3pm New Zealand vs India, 6pm Korea vs Pilipinas

25: 3pm New Zealand vs Korea, 6pm India vs Pilipinas

27: 430pm India vs Korea, 7pm New Zealand vs Pilipinas

28: 3pm India vs New Zealand, 6pm Pilipinas vs Korea

The Philippines is seeking to build on the momentum of the Asia Cup Qualifiers, where Gilas Pilipinas won all six of their matches, including two games against Korea.

FIBA reveals logo for 2023 World Cup

FIBA 2023 World Cup logo. #DontMissABeat

In line with the #DontMissABeat campaign, FIBA revealed its official logo for the 2023 Basketball World Cup this past Friday.

Three elements are being emphasized in the logo: a heart, the Naismith Trophy, and the year 2023.

The sideways heart symbolize the passion for the game. It also happens to be the main battlecry for the Philippines in sporting competition as "PUSO."

The presence of the Naismith Trophy, which is given to the FIBA World Cup champion, represents the dream of all the participating teams in the competition.

The number 23 represents 2023, the year the next FIBA World Cup takes place, to be hosted in multiple countries for the first time: the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

All three co-hosts exhibit a strong passion for the sport of basketball, something the new 2023 FIBA World Cup logo embodies as it brings together millions of fans, with their millions of hearts beating as one.

FIBA Central Board member and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan shares, "We Filipinos are all proud to be a part of this important milestone in basketball, together with Japan and Indonesia."

He adds, "The Philippines look forward to extending our brand of hospitality to the participating teams, to the world congress delegates, and to the many visitors expected to come - true to the essence of the logo we are launching today - a heart, the puso of the Filipino. Our Philippine President Rodrigo Roa Duterte expressed his support to make the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 an unqualified success and said, '[we want to] turn this event into a proud and dignified moment for our country."

Japan Basketball Association President Yuko Mitsuya says, "We are very pleased to be part of the launch of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 official logo. For the first time in history, the tournament will be hosted by three countries. We will continue to work together with FIBA, the Philippines, Indonesia and the city of Okinawa to create a moment where basketball fans from all around the world will feel their hearts beat together and share the excitement of the game of basketball."

Indonesian Basketball Association (PERBASI) President Danny Kosasih adds, "The official logo launch is the first exciting step of many for all three host nations, for FIBA and basketball fans worldwide. The logo certainly represents all three host nations' spirit of uniting and working together with the same heartbeat to deliver the best basketball experiences that fans could ever have. On this special occasion, we would also like to ask basketball fans around the world to be part of this extraordinary event by taking part in the #DontMissABeat campaign. Join us and be part of this historic event."

FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis says, "This is a very exciting milestone. The distinctive FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 logo symbolizes our love for the game, which is shared by the organizing committees and FIBA, and it also represents the vision and passion of the event that brings together, for the first time, three host countries."

The 2023 iteration of the FIBA World Cup will take place from August 25 to September 10, 2023, with Manila, Okinawa, and Jakarta acting as hubs for the Group Phase. Manila then becomes the main host for the Final Phase. For these seventeen days, all three nations will be sharing the passion and dream, creating three times the amount of energy and excitement.

Qualification for the tournament is set to commence in the November 2021 window, and will last until February 2023. Around 80 teams are expected to fight for a place in the Group Phase, which offers 32 slots, which already includes the ones allocated to hosts Philippines and Japan, as well as to Indonesia, provided their team meets FIBA's specified criteria. 

The unveiling of the logo is merely the latest attempt by FIBA to jumpstart their "Don't Miss a Beat" campaign, which has the objective of ensuring that the basketball community remains united and active for the next few months.

Said campaign is also encouraging fans everywhere to have fun with the music beats linked to basketball on their respective social media channels via the hashtag #DontMissABeat. To help foster that, expect national team members from the co-hosts to get involved over the next few weeks.

It will also use the federation's social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Weibo, and WeChat) in conveying said message.

The FIBA World Cup 2019 Draw Procedure

Pot Session.

FIBA on Friday revealed how the World Cup Draw Procedure will take place, the first one involving 32 teams.

To determine the pots, FIBA rankings were used to sort the field, with one exception, as Canada and Iran swapped pots to ensure proper regional distribution of the teams. In addition, hosts China have been allocated a spot in Pot 1, and has been designated to Group A, which is based in Beijing. The LOC has also made the decision to designate the United States, which is also in Pot 1 to Group E, which is based in Shanghai.

The Philippines has been drawn into Pot 6, alongside Canada, Montenegro, and Korea.

The Pots are as follows:

To be drawn into either Group A (Beijing), C (Guangzhou), E (Shanghai), G (Shenzhen):

Pot 1: China, United States, Spain, France (China in Group A. United States in Group E)
Pot 4: Puerto Rico, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Venezuela (Turkey already automatically drawn into Group E as other three nations cannot be in same group as the United States)
Pot 5: Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Iran (Iran cannot be in same group alongside China)
Pot 8: Japan, Jordan, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire (Japan and Jordan cannot be in a group alongside Iran or China)

To be drawn into either Group B (Wuhan), D (Foshan), F (Nanjing), H (Dongguan):

Pot 2: Serbia, Argentina, Lithuania, Greece
Pot 3: Russia, Australia, Brazil, Italy (Brazil cannot be in same group alongside Argentina)
Pot 6: Canada, Montenegro, Pilipinas, Korea (Philippines and Korea cannot be in same group alongside Australia)
Pot 7: Nigeria, Senegal, New Zealand, Angola (New Zealand cannot be in same group alongside Australia, Philippines, or Korea)

After determine which group it will be designated to, the draw will also indicate which position it will occupy in the group, in order to determine the order of matches.

In case you have difficutly trying to figure it out, FIBA put this on their Youtube account:



The draw is scheduled later today, with ESPN5 showing the festivities starting at 7pm on TV5.

Gilas pool for final FIBA World Cup Qualifying matches set

Yeng Guiao and the Philippines have some work to do. (c/o FIBA)

With the stakes higher than usual as they try to earn their qualification for the FIBA World Cup later this year in China, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has already finalized a set pool for head coach Yeng Guiao to play with.

On Tuesday afternoon, the SBP announced the composition of the 14-man team who will be involved in the remaining two matches in World Cup qualifying, led by naturalized big man Andray Blatche.

Blatche, who was notably left off the pool for the previous window, is joined by Japeth Aguilar, Raymond Almazan, Mark Barroca, Jayson Castro, Poy Erram, JuneMar Fajardo, Marcio Lassiter, Paul Lee, Gabe Norwood, Roger Pogoy, Troy Rosario, Christian Standhardinger, and Scottie Thompson.

Standhardinger has been designated as the reserve naturalized option, while Pogoy still has to observe one more game to complete his five-match suspension before becoming available.

The Philippines is currently toting a 5-5 record, fourth place in Group F behind Australia (9-1), Iran (7-3), and Japan (6-4). To earn qualification, one need to finish in the top three, or finish fourth with the better record against the fourth placer of Group E, currently held by Lebanon (6-4).

After suffering painful losses at home to Kazakhstan (92-88) and Iran (78-70), Gilas will face Qatar at the Al-Gharafa Sports Club in Doha on February 21, before heading to the Republican Velodrome Saryanka in Astana to face Kazakhstan on February 24.

To prepare for these two matches, practices are set to resume starting Monday, January 21. The team will then head to the Middle East in the second week of February for some friendly scrimmages. The PBA has already stated that they will put a pause to league action starting February 14 until the end of the window.

SBP president Al Panlilio had this to say about the lineup revelation, "As this window is critical in our campaign, we would like to thank again the support of the PBA in making this PBA players available." He expressed his gratitude to his fellow members at the Board of Governors, which is led by its chairman Ricky Vargas, as well as to league commissioner Willie Marcial, for approving the release of the players for practices, as well as for the schedule adjustment.

Panlilio adds that Blatche is expected to arrive in the country by the first week of February. He also asked for Filipinos to continue to support the sport, sharing "We are requesting all the Filipino basketball fans to continue supporting our national team, coach Yeng and his staff and the SBP."

Philippines lineup vs Iran

From the 16-man pool, the Philippines coaching staff has decided with these twelve players for the upcoming FIBA World Cup Qualifier against Iran tomorrow night.

The statement from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is as follows:

The SBP is pleased and proud to announce the final 12 Man lineup of the GILAS PILIPINAS Team against Iran in Iran on September 13, 2018. They are:

1. ALMAZAN, Raymond
2. BELGA, Beau Michael Vincent
3. CABAGNOT, Alexander, Jr.
4. DALISTAN, Paul John
5. ERRAM, John Paul
6. LASSITER, Marcio
7. MALICSI, Allein Gail
8. NORWOOD, Gabriel Daniel
9. SANGALANG, Ian Paul
10. STANDHARDINGER, Christian Karl
11. TAULAVA, Pauliasi
12. THOMPSON, Earl Scottie

We ask everyone to join us in prayer for the continued success of the Team in the FIBA Asia World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

Left off the pool are Stanley Pringle, Greg Slaughter, Japeth Aguilar, and Matthew Wright. The latter two are definitively out, as they observe their one-match suspension due to their involvement in the fracas against Australia. With only one spot available for the designated naturalized player, the coaching staff chose Christian instead of Stanley. Slaughter had been dealing with an ankle injury that he incurred last week against NorthPort.

The game will be at 830pm (Manila time) at the Azady Gym in Tehran. TV coverage from ESPN5 starts at 8pm.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc. and Basketball Australia co-statement

The Basketball Federations of the Philippines and Australia released the following statement, likely the final one before FIBA would reveal its ruling in the aftermath of July 2 incident. 

Following the incident that occurred during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers game between our senior men’s national teams on Monday, July 2, we wish to issue the following statement:

We deeply regret the events that took place during the game. The actions displayed have no place on any basketball court.

We wish to apologize to the entire basketball community worldwide - and in particular to our fantastic fans in the Philippines and Australia - for the behavior displayed by both teams and for bringing the game of basketball into disrepute.

We fully accept our responsibility and are collaborating in the ongoing proceedings to investigate the incidents.

We will do everything in our power to prevent this from happening again.

Basketball has a unique power to unite and we look forward to continuing bringing people together in the true spirit of friendship and sportsmanship in future games.

It has been co-signed by their respective heads: Al Panlilio (SBP president) and Ned Coten (Basketball Australia Chairman)

Post-match Statements from Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc. and Basketball Australia

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas, Inc. released their statement on the incident involving the Philippines and Australia in the July 2 FIBA World Cup Qualifier.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) apologizes to Filipino basketball fans and to the basketball community for the incident that occurred during last night’s game. As hosts, we regret having breached the bounds of traditional Filipino hospitality. As the national team representing flag and country, we likewise extend our apologies to the Filipino people.

SBP stands by its conviction that violence has no place in sports.

We will review the incident comprehensively and await the decision of FIBA with respect to disciplinary proceedings on the matter.

The SBP statement is after Basketball Australia released a couple of statements in the aftermath of the incident.

The first came after the game.

Basketball Australia deeply regrets the incident in tonight’s match between the Boomers and the Philippines in Manila. We are extremely disappointed with what happened and our role in it.

“This is not the spirit in which sport should be played and certainly not in the spirit in which we aim to play basketball.

"We apologise to our fans and will await the penalties to be handed down.

The second was done the morning after, as Chief Executive Anthony Moore addressing it publicly, which the federation streamed through its Facebook page.



FIBA has only addressed this matter on a simple tweet.

Following the incident that occured in the third quarter of the Philippines-Australia game on Monday in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, FIBA will now open disciplinary proceedings against both teams. The decision(s) will be communicated in the coming days.

— FIBA media (@FIBA_media) July 2, 2018