FIBA World Cup record attendance buburahin ng Pilipinas
NAKATUON na agad ang Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) na ipamalas sa buong mundo na makakayanan mismo ng Pilipinas na wasakin ang record attendance na 35,000 matapos matagumpay na nakuha ng pinagsama-samang Philippines-Japan-Indonesia group ang karapatang maging host ng FIBA World Cup sa 2023.
Inihayag mismo ni SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan ang naging resulta sa pagpapasya ng FIBA Central Board Sabado ng gabi sa Lausanne, Switzerland kung saan kasama sa nais nitong iwanang pamana ang burahin ang record attendance noong 1954 World Cup final sa pagitan ng USA at Brazil na ginanap sa Rio de Janeiro.
“World basketball is coming home to the Philippines. This is a proud moment for every Filipino. Staging the World Cup with 32 competing teams is a huge honor for our country. Our deep love for basketball, our passion for the sport is unequalled anywhere in the world,” sabi ni Pangilinan.
Katulong ang Japan at Indonesia ay kasamang binitbit ng Pilipinas ang slogan na “Play It Louder Than Ever.”
Base sa plano ng “Power of 3” ay mahigit 16 sa kabuuang 32 koponan ang maglalaro sa Pilipinas habang ang walong iba ay maglalaro sa elimination round sa Indonesia at walo naman sa Japan. Ang eight-team quarterfinals hanggang sa Finals ay lalaruin sa Maynila bilang main host.
Hindi rin nabigo ang pareha ng Argentina-Uruguay matapos makuha ang hosting rights sa 2027 FIBA World Cup bitbit ang kanilang slogan na “All The Powers of Nature – Two Countries, One Passion.”
Hangad ni Pangilinan na mabigyan ng pagkakataon ang mga Pilipino na makapanood ng matitinding kalidad ng mga laro at makapagsagawa ng malaking tulong sa mundo ng basketball bago lisanin ang kanyang puwesto.
“Basketball flows through our blood, pulses through our veins and animates our hearts. Basketball is what defines us, it is what unites us. We will play louder than ever,” sabi ni Pangilinan.
Umaasa naman si SBP president Al Panlilio na kayang punuin ng Pilipinas ang 55,000-seater Philippine Arena na siyang pagdarausan ng finals.
“We will pack our stadiums. FIBA will be the winner as will basketball,” ani Panlilio.
“Mr. MVP was happy more for the Filipino people than for himself. He pulled out all stops to win the bid for the country and his countrymen. Now the hard work begins more so since Mr. MVP wants it to be the most successful Basketball World Cup ever,” sabi naman ni SBP executive director Sonny Barrios.
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