Australia, NZ inclusion in Fiba Asia ups q’fying ante

NOW is the best time for the Philippines to take a clear shot at the world championship.

Talk is rife that Oceania basketball powerhouses Australia and New Zealand might be included in the Asian qualifier for the 2019 Fiba World Cup, making the mission for Gilas Pilipinas doubly difficult, if not impossible.

The International Basketball Federation or Fiba moved the next world championship from 2018 to 2019 to avoid competing with the Fifa World Cup, football’s world championship.

Reports have it that Fiba is looking to expand the participation in the World Cup from 24 to 32 countries, although the three  slots allotted to the continent in the 2018 Fiba Asia will remain unchanged despite the possible merger with Oceania.

“If they don’t add spots for Asia and Oceania, it would be tougher for us to qualify,” said Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes in a previous statement. “We don’t just have to contend with China and Iran, but also with Australia and New Zealand.”

The 2019 Fiba World Cup also serves as the qualifier for the 2020 Olympics.