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| It's Top 8 or possibly bust for Indonesia in the FIBA Asia Cup if it wants to enter the FIBA World Cup outright. Dennis Acosta (file photo) |
By Ivan Saldajeno
MANILA--Indonesia may need to prove its worth in the FIBA Asia Cup first before FIBA can give the country a sure spot in the FIBA World Cup as host it rightfully deserves.
FIBA's executive committee ruled on Monday that Indonesia must first have a deep run in the FIBA Asia Cup if it wants to join Gilas Pilipinas Men and Japan as qualified teams.
The ExeCom said that Indonesia needs to make at least the Top 8 in next year's FIBA Asia Cup to earn its place in the FIBA World Cup.
Needless to say, Indonesia, which has never made the FIBA World Cup before, has to at least make the quarterfinal round of the FIBA Asia Cup next year to qualify for the 2023 World Cup. The qualifiers for the FIBA Asia Cup are currently on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Should Indonesia achieve the Top 8 goal, FIBA will reduce the allotted spots for Asia-Pacific teams in the 2023 FIBA World Cup by one.
Otherwise, the usual qualification rules will apply, which means Indonesia may need to undergo the FIBA World Cup qualifiers if it fails to reach the Top 8, putting the team in further danger of not joining the quadrennial meet it will host.
The year 2023 will mark the first time that multiple nations will host the FIBA World Cup.
Follow him on Twitter: @IvanSaldajeno_
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