China’s Yao Ming and the Philippines’ Manny Pacquiao lead their nations’ bids to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup. Photo from Fiba’s Twitter account.
China or the Philippines?
That has been the biggest question reverberating in Tokyo as the two countries prepare for war for the right to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup.
And the two nations definitely brought their big guns.
In a photo tweeted by the official Fiba account, legendary Chinese basketball star Yao Ming and the Philippines’ eight-division boxing world champion Manny Pacquiao faced off and posed side-by-side before the two camps made their presentation on Friday.
READ: #PUSO2019: 7 reasons why PH should host FIBA World Cup
Yao is poised to lead the Chinese delegation in its pitch to bring the tournament in the Mainland, while Pacquiao will just be a part of a strong Philippine contingent which is hoping to convince the 23-man Fiba Central Board to award the hosting rights to the Pearl of the Orient.
READ: PH makes star-studded final rally to bag 2019 Fiba World hosting
Aside from Pacquiao, Filipino-American Hollywood actor Lou Diamond Phillips, Gilas assistant coach Jimmy Alapag, and ex-national team coach Chot Reyes will also be in the country’s presentation bid. IDL