Race to host 2019 Fiba World Cup down to Philippines, China

Filipino fans in Spain during the 2014 Fiba World Cup. PHOTO from FIBA.com

MANILA, Philippines — The 2019 Fiba World Cup will be played in Asia and there’s a 50-50 chance it could be staged here.

The Philippines and China remained as the only countries left in the race to host the quadrennial gathering of the world’s best in basketball, according to fiba.com.

Fiba’s Central Board will make its final decision during its meeting in June. Sports patron Manny V. Pangilinan is part of the Central Board after being elected as a member last September.

The country’s hosting bid comes on the heels of a successful staging of the 2013 Fiba Asia Championship where Gilas Pilipinas bagged the silver medal and booked a ticket to the 2014 World Cup.

 READ: ‘PH can host Fiba World Cup’

The Philippines and China bested four other countries that made the initial shortlist released last December namely Turkey, Qatar, Germany and France.

Manila played host to the 1978 World Championship where the country finished eighth out of the 14 teams. The last time the tournament was held in Asia was in 2006 in Japan.

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