MOA Arena to host Gilas games for FIBA ACQ November window

Gilas will host New Zealand and Hong Kong this November at the MOA Arena. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA--The SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay will be the battleground for Gilas Pilipinas' two-game home stand in the November window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Erika Dy confirmed on Tuesday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission conference room inside Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

"Both games will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena to give more fans a chance to watch the games live," Dy said.

The home game between Gilas and Chinese Taipei at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig last February drew a huge crowd that easily filled the 10,000-seater arena.

This prompted the SBP to hold Gilas' next ACQ games inside MOA Arena, which can accommodate as many as 20,000 fans.

Gilas will first host New Zealand on Nov. 21 to cap the first half of the double round-robin ACQ phase before beginning the second half with a rematch against Hong Kong on Nov. 24.

For now, the focus is on the July window, which is the period for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Dy said that Gilas is likely to reconvene on June 22, beginning with a training camp at the Inspire Sports Academy in Calamba City.

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