The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Robert Andaya
TOP collegiate teams from UAAP and NCAA will play in a two-day competition on June 27-28 as part of the test event of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) for the coming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
This was announced by FIBA World Cup Joint Management Committee head John Lucas and Deputy Event Director Erika Dy, who said the event scheduled on June 27 and 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City is aimed at simulating the World Cup atmosphere.
“We’ll actually have our test event on June 27 and 28. where we will hold simultaneous games following the FIBA time which is 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Smart Araneta and 4:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia,” said Dy when she guested at the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila.
Dy, a former Ateneo player and coach, said that planning and organization for the staging of the event is almost 80 percent complete with still 72 days left before the actual competition,
Dy said the test event will also be covered live to test the broadcast side of the coverage. She said transportation going to both venues is likewise going to be simulated, with the games open to the public.
“This means nakalatag na ang lahat ng plano. It’s just all about execution,” added Dy.
Lucas, for his part, , said the opener will be a doubleheader at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan with Gilas Pilipinas taking on Dominican Republic in the main game and Italy battling Angola in the curtain raiser.
He said formal opening ceremony will be held in between games.
“This will go beyond the games because we have something special for the fans. We’ll have the opening ceremony, halftime shows. So great value for the fans. Two great games, great opening, halftime shows where you’ll see celebrities,” said Lucas.
Joining Lucas and Dy in the weekly forum session sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann and local media committee head Virgil Villavicencio.
The Philippines, which first hosted the World Cup in 1978, will have Japan and Indonesia as co-hosts. The event is scheduled on August 25-Sept. 10 event, with all of the playoffs set at Mall of Asia Arena.
Lucas is hoping to surpass the record of 32,000-plus attendance in a FIBA game by filling up the Philippine Arena on opening day.
He said the record attendance was set during the 1994 World Cup in Toronto during the finals between United States and Russia.
“We want to really fill up the Philippine Arena. We need to break the record. Let’s make history,” said Lucas.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been invited to grace the opening ceremony.
“He’s been invited, but there’s still no confirmation,” said Dy, noting the late former President Marcos Sr. was the one who did the opening ceremony when the country hosted the World Cup 45 years ago.