GENEVA – Tunay na world-class ang talento ng Pinoy. At akma lamang na maging host ang Pilipinas sa world-class basketball sa 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Matapos ang pagpupulong ng FIBA Central Board nitong Sabado (Linggo sa Manila) sa FIBA headquarters sa Mies, Switzerland, nakamit ng bansa ang makasaysayang kaganapan nang ipahayag ng FIBA ang pagwawagi ng Pilipinas, Japan at Indonesia bilang host ng pinakamalaking basketball championship sa mundo.
Ginapi ng Pilipinas, Japan at Indonesia ang finalist ding Argentina at Uruguay na binigyan naman ng karapatan na maging host sa 2027 edition.
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Mabigat ang laban bunsod na rin ng pagkakaroon ng malawak na suporta ang dalawang finalist na kapwa nakapag-host na rin ng ilang malalaking international tournament sa nakalipas na taon.
Ibinida ng Argentina at Uruguay ang kampanyang “All The Powers of Nature – Two Countries, One Passion” , habang ang Japan, Pilipians at Indonesia ay sumandig sa “Play It Louder Than Ever” in 2023 campaign.
Iginiit ni SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan na tila nabunutan siya ng tinik nang malaman ang desisyion at nangako na gagawin ang lahat para masiguro ang tagumpay ng torneo matapos ang bigong kampanya sa 2019 FIBA World Cup.
“World basketball is coming home to the Philippines,” pahayag ni Pangilinan.
“This is a proud moment for every Filipino. Staging the World Cup with 32 competing teams is a huge honor for our country. Our deep love for basketball, our passion for the sport is unequalled anywhere in the world. Basketball flows through our blood, pulses through our veins and animates our hearts. Basketball is what defines us, it is what unites us. We will play louder than ever,” aniya.
Bahagi ang isang minutong video na gawa ng ESPN sa New York bilang panimula sa 20-minute presentation ng consortium ng Pilipinas bago ang keynote address ni Pangilinan at Indonesia’s member of the House of Representatives Budi Satrio Djiwandono.
Pinagtibay din ni Japan Basketball Association Deputy Secretary-General Mitsuhiro Hirota ang kahandaan ng tatlong bansa, kabilang ang 10,000 seat state-of-the-art basketball stadium sa Okinawa City.
Sinabi naman ni deputy speaker Rep. Pia Cayetano sa FIBA Central Board na handa ang pamahalaan ng Pilipinas para sa hosting kabilang na ang multi-billion infrastructure program.
“It is time for the world to recognize the Philippine and to experience Filipino hospitality, see our unique brand of basketball and the passion that we give to it,” aniya.
Iginiit naman ni Indonesian Basketball Association chairman at SEABA president at FIBA Central Board member Erick Thohir na naglaan ng sapat na pondo ang pamahalaan para masiguro ang tagumpay ng hosting.
“As the world’s fourth most populous country with more than 260 million people, it’s an important time for Indonesia to realize the potential and exciting future for the development of basketball,” aniya.
“Mr. MVP was happy more for the Filipino people than for himself. He pulled out all stops to win the bid for the country and his countrymen. Now the hard work begins more so since Mr. MVP wants it to be the most successful Basketball World Cup ever,” pahayag ni SBP Executive Director Sonny Barrios.
