SBP gets IATF green light for Fiba Asia Cup qualifiers hosting
FIBA ASIA CUP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has received the green light from the Inter-Agency Task Force for Emerging Infectious Diseases to hold its hosting of the third window of the Fiba Asia Cup Qualifiers.
The Philippines will host the third window of the continental tournament in a bubble environment in Clark, Pampanga—the same area that the PBA used for the 2020 Philippine Cup.
“The SBP has been working with FIBA, government agencies, and other partners to ensure a successful and, more importantly, a safe bubble,” said SBP in a statement.
“The SBP knows that Filipino basketball fans have waited a long time for this and we’re just as excited as they are to have international basketball in our country again.”
Groups A, B, and C will play in Clark in the third window that has been pushed back several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Philippines, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia make up Group A, while Japan, Chinese-Taipei, Malaysia, and China are in Group B.
Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, and Guam comprise Group C.
“We’re looking forward to hosting our friends from South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Guam, and Chinese Taipei and showing them the kind of hospitality that the Philippines is known for,” also said SBP.
The third window was originally set for February but the SBP withdrew from the hosting responsibilities after the national government implemented travel restrictions due to the rising COVID-19 cases, prompting Doha, Qatar as the substitute host.
Qatar, however, ordered all public events canceled as it, too, experienced a surge in cases thus pushing the hosting rights back to the Philippines.
