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| The Mall of Asia Arena is the likely host of the 2023 FIBA World Cup semifinals and final if the Philippines and Indonesia win in their co-hosting bid. (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
PASAY--In what would be a historic moment, the Philippines and Indonesia joined forces in hopes of bringing the FIBA World Cup back to Southeast Asia.
In a statement on Wednesday night, the SBP announced that it agreed with PERBASI for a co-hosting bid for the 2023 edition of the said international tournament.
The said co-hosting bid is the first time a said move was made ever or since FIBA allowed multiple nations within a certain continent submit a single hosting bid as co-hosts.
In the said co-hosting bid, both the Philippines and Indonesia will host the first three rounds of the FIBA World Cup with the former, being the lead country for the bid, hosting the semifinals and the final.
The SBP and PERBASI's co-hosting bid came at an opportune time as both nations are building new sports facilities for their upcoming regional sports event hosting, the staging of the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia and the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines.
The last time the FIBA World Cup took place in Southeast Asia was in 1978, when the Philippines had its one and only hosting chore so far.
The SBP pitched its hosting bid for the 2019 FIBA World Cup but lost to China.
Still, the Philippines got some taste of world-class hoops by being a host for the FIBA OQT last year.
The official candidates for the 2023 FIBA World Cup hosting will be known in February, while the eventual host(s) will be named in December.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno
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