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FIBA lauds 2023 WC hosting bids

The Philippine Arena, which drew record-breaking crowds during the PBA Governors' Cup Finals last month, is tipped as a venue for the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Dennis Acosta (file photo)
By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--FIBA expressed happiness about the four hosting offers that it got for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

In a statement early Tuesday (Philippine Time), FIBA's "executive committee praised the high quality of the bids."

A co-hosting by the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan, another co-hosting venture between Argentina and Uruguay, and solo bids from Russia, which will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and Turkey make up the four shortlisted hosting bids for the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Representatives from the national federations involved in the bids met with FIBA officials over the weekend in the latter's main office in Mies, Switzerland to tell about the latest developments and ask the things they need to do next.

The said countries are to submit a host nation agreement and signed guarantees by Wednesday.

The Philippines, being the lead nation in the Asian bid, proposed to hold the games at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay, which hosted the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup and the 2016 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, the host of the 1978 FIBA World Cup, the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, which drew back-to-back 53,000-people crowds during the recently concluded PBA Governors' Cup Finals, and the PhilSports Arena in Pasig, while Jakarta and Okinawa will hold the other FIBA World Cup games should the FIBA Central Board approves the said bid.

The board will convene on Dec. 9 to decide who will succeed China as host or co-hosts of the FIBA World Cup.

Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno