Former NBA players Luis Scola and Dirk Nowitzki at the Fiba World Cup draw at Smart Araneta Coliseum. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines—Squads from the UAAP and NCAA will compete in “simulation” games in preparation for the Fiba World Cup happening here in August.
According to Deputy Event Director Erika Dy, selected collegiate teams will be playing games on the same schedule as the Fiba World Cup’s opening day to practice the flow of the game days.
“We’ll actually have our test event where we will hold games following the Fiba time which is 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Smart Araneta and 4:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at Mall of Asia (Arena),” Dy said the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday at Rizal Memorial Complex.
“That means the games will happen simultaneously.”
The games will be treated as a World Cup game, from the players’ transportation to the venues all the way to the matches being telecasted.
Dy also emphasized that from now until the event itself, the main thing to pull off is the “execution.”
Fiba World Cup Joint Management Committee head John Lucas also said that the planning and organization for the staging of the event are almost 80 percent complete.
“This will go beyond the games because we have something special for the fans. We’ll have the opening ceremony, halftime shows. So great value for the fans. Two great games, great opening, halftime shows where you’ll see celebrities,” Lucas said.
The Philippines is co-hosting the World Cup along with Japan and Indonesia. The group stages will be held at Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum, except for Gilas Pilipinas’ opening day game on August 25 which will be at Philippine Arena in Bulacan.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is looking to break the all-time attendance record during a Fiba World Cup game when the Filipinos face Dominican Republic.
“We want to really fill up the Philippine Arena. We need to break the record. Let’s make history,” Lucas said.