Philippines: The Chosen One for FIBA WORLD CUP 2019?

More Filipinos are now well acquainted with the International Basketball Federation or FIBA, an independent association established by 214 national basketball federations worldwide in Geneva in 1932.

Even though the Philippines wasn’t one of its founding member-countries, composed of Argentina, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Portugal, Romania, and Switzerland, last year’s FIBA World Cup held in Spain made Filipinos feel that their players have garnered a well-earned spot in the international basketball scene.

Managed by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP), Gilas Pilipinas was composed of Jimmy Alapag, LA Tenorio, Jayson Castro, Paul Lee, Jeff Chan, Gabe Norwood, Gary David, Ranidel De Ocampo, Marc Pingris, Japeth Aguilar, Junemar Fajardo and Andre Blatche with Chot Reyes as head coach. It made history after winning against Senegal in an overtime game, ending with the score of 81-79— the country’s first FIBA win in 40 years since the 1974 tournament. Gilas Pilipinas ranked 21st, while FIBA rewarded the team’s supporters with the Most Valuable Fans (MVF) Best Country Award.

Philippines to play host

Last year’s event captured the heart of FIBA Secretary General Patrick Baumann to bid the Philippines to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. In a press conference held at Makati Shangri-La, Baumann said, “It is a pleasure for us in FIBA to see the Philippines in the international level, in Spain last year, in the event here in 2013, and in the ambition to host the 2019 World Cup.”

The FIBA Special commission visited the country last January to inspect the country’s possible venues, as well as accommodations and other requirements needed for hosting the grandest basketball tournament. The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) has spent close to 5 million pesos in its bid to impress and meet FIBA’s standards.

But beyond the technical requirements, FIBA considered the Philippines because of its people’s passion for basketball. As Baumann pointed out, “You’re probably the only country that breathes basketball day in and day out. This is the best possible asset you have and we are pleased that a country like yours with fans that are all experts and all complaining to the referees, this is something extraordinary and we’re very proud to have you as a member.”

Potential Venues

The FIBA requires at least four venues mirroring those that hosted the 2014 match in Bilbao, Granada, Seville and Gran Canaria in Spain.

The Philippine Arena, SM Mall of Asia Arena and Smart Araneta Coliseum are among the five venues that passed the standards of FIBA’s evaluation commission. Meanwhile the other two venues are still in the planning process—the Solaire Group to build the venue within Metro Manila and the SM Group to build another in Cebu to be completed by 2017.

In 2019, the FIBA plans to hold simultaneous basketball tournaments in different venues.

PH VS Other Countries

Six countries are on the shortlist to host the 2019 FIBA World Cup: China, Qatar, Germany, France and Turkey.

SBP executive Sonny Barrios said PH is in a tight competition from other countries that are well equipped. Most of the prospective countries are ready in terms of infrastructure. Barrios said, “Halimbawa, kung ikaw si Brazil, sa iyo yung 2016 Olympics, ready na yung infrastructure mo, ready na ‘yun for 2019 World Cup. Turkey, nag-host na sila ng World Cup noong 2010, ready na rin sila. Yun ang lamang nila, ready na ‘yung mga infrastructure nila. Tayo, may itatayo ang SM Group sa Cebu, may itatayo ang Solaire Group sa may Resorts World, pero so far plano pa lang ‘yan.”

To host the biggest basketball tournament in the world, the SBP will formally submit its bid documents in April, which will be forwarded to the FIBA board for final evaluation and voting. The final announcement will be made on its next meeting on June 18 to 19, 2015.