FIBA opts for bubble mode too in continental cup qualifiers

CJ Perez and Gilas Men will resume their FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers campaign inside a bubble. FIBA (file photo)

By Ivan Saldajeno

MANILA—FIBA announced on Friday night that the continuation of the qualifiers for the continental cups will take place inside a bubble.

In a statement on Friday night, FIBA said that it will do away with the home-and-away format for the next two qualifying windows in November and February next year due to the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic.

FIBA will designate a host city per bubble, and the games will take place "in compliance with the FIBA health protocols."

"The hosts will be decided at regional level and will be announced in due course," the governing body further said.

FIBA added that one city will host a certain continental cup qualifier group, but there is also a possibility that the said town will host two groups.

Gilas Pilipinas Men is in Group A of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers along with South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Gilas Men, who trounced Indonesia on Feb. 23 to open their campaign, were supposed to face Thailand first on Feb. 20, but the game was postponed as the COVID-19 situation had begun to worsen in the Philippines.

FIBA has yet to decide on when the Gilas Men-Thailand first round meeting will be rescheduled.

Both teams are scheduled to face off on Nov. 30, right after Gilas Men take on South Korea on Nov. 27.

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