After a painful end to its bid to host the coming Fiba World Cup, the Philippines wants to stage the 2023 edition, but this time in partnership with Indonesia, the Inquirer learned Wednesday night.
In a text message, Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio confirmed that the Philippines and Indonesia had filed for a joint hosting of the sports biggest event in 2023, with the SBP believing that they have a better chance this time.
“This planned partnership between the Philippines and Indonesia, with a total population base of about 360 million, can be regarded as a significant development for Asean basketball and in the global initiatives of the Fiba to popularize the sport in different parts of the world,” Panlilio said in his text.
The Philippines lost the bid to host the 2019 edition to China two years ago in one of the closest deliberations in history.
China got the nod after it dangled eight of its highly-developed cities and its highly-advanced infrastructure and transportation system. Of course, having more than a billion people as its market base for the event served the Chinese well during the voting.
“The SBP/Philippines is very excited to be the lead country in this bid,” Panlilio also said.