Photo from Fiba
MANILA, Philippines—Gilas Pilipinas ace Jordan Clarkson, Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic and Japan standout Yuta Watanabe shared the spotlight in the Fiba World Cup’s “Nothing Else Matters” global campaign released on Monday.
The 30-second video serves as a teaser for the global showcase, which tips off on August 25 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Fiba also released a version with China’s anchor Zhou Qi.
Basketball takes over the summer 🏀 🏖️#FIBAWC x #WinForAll 🏆 x #NothingElseMatters pic.twitter.com/dciaVDB0qN
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 14, 2023
“To provide fans with unique access to their heroes and convey authentic storytelling, each player was shot in iconic locations strongly tied to their paths. Doncic was filmed in Ljubljana, Clarkson in San Antonio, Watanabe in Miyazaki and Qi in Qingdao City,” said Fiba on its website.
“State-of-the-art filming techniques and computer-generated imagery were used to create a smooth transition for each player from their personal leisure time into the intensity of a FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 battle which delivers a fusion of action, basketball skills and stunning locations. All of those elements have all been combined to provide an exciting, kinetic film that will bring to life the #NothingElseMatters message globally.”
Clarkson, who is making his third stint with Gilas, will lead the Philippines in Group A, which also features Italy, Dominican Republic and Angola.
In Zhou Qi's house, #NothingElseMatters ✋ 🤩#FIBAWC x #WinForAll 🏆 pic.twitter.com/0LCgLx9WUe
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 🏆 (@FIBAWC) August 14, 2023
The Doncic-led Slovenia, meanwhile, plays its group phase games in Okinawa, Japan against Cape Verde, Venezuela and Georgia in Group F.
Co-host Japan is in Group E with Germany, Finland and Australia.
China, which hosted the previous edition of the World Cup in 2019, will be battling it out with Serbia, Puerto Rico and South Sudan in Group B.
The United States, which will play at Mall of Asia Arena, is the early odds-on favorite to win it all. USA, composed of rising stars from the NBA, is expected to cruise past a Giannis Antetokounmpo-less Greece, New Zealand and Jordan in Group C.
Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP, begged off from the World Cup due to health issues.