FIBA awards PH to host games for 2021 window

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

With FIBA’s series of successive bubbles in the recent November window, it is the Philippines’ turn to take on the challenge after being awarded to host a couple of games for the upcoming 2021 qualifiers.

The chosen venue was Clark, Pampanga where the PBA Philippine Cup bubble just concluded with facilities already in place to host another prestigious bubble.

Currently, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) is finalizing the needed preparations including logistics and the schedule proper to formally announce the development.

Two groups in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers will be staged in Pampanga, Groups A and C where the Philippines will also see action and play in their home court.

Group A consists of the Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand while Group C had New Zealand, Australia, Guam, and Hong Kong.

During the previous bubble, South Korea refused to participate and play in Bahrain due to the COVID-19 scare but the SBP and FIBA hope that their proposed health and safety protocols will be enough to encourage the Ricardo Ratliffe led squad.