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Friday, March 29, 2024

1-year countdown for FIBA World Cup begins

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Three separate countdown ceremonies have began over the last four days, marking the days, hours, minutes and seconds before the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup begins a year from now.

The basketball lights up at the Music Hall of Mall of Asia ion Saturday to mark the one-year countdown before the Philippines co-hosts the FIBA World Cup 2023 with Japan and Indonesia. SBP chair emeritus Manny Pangilinan and president Al Panlilio, FIBA World Cup chair Richard Carrion, POC president Rep. Bambol Tolentino and Ms. Universe 2018 Catriona Gray graced the event. Avito Dalan

Japan was the first to reveal the Countdown Clock on August 25 (Thursday) in Tenbusu Naha Plaza in Naha City.

The second ceremony on Saturday unveiled the country’s own countdown timer, done at Mall of Asia Music Hall in Pasay, with cultural presentations, firework displays, a synchronized drone exhibition at bayside and lots of music highlighing the celebrations broadcast live nationally by Cignal TV.

Indonesia’s festivities were held on Sunday at the Bundaran HI, one of the striking landmarks which dominate Jakarta’s cityscape, with Indonesia’s basketball chief Erick Thohir leading the rites.

FIBA president Hamane Niang, who was in Manila on Saturday was glad at what he witnessed and was present in the functions done by the three countries, which will play host to the games.

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Niang, who is also the president of FIBA Africa since 2014, expressed his satisfaction of the Philippines’ hosting preparations to officials of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas before he left for Jakarta.

“Maganda ang ating preparation. Nakita niya iyung paghahanda. He was happy to see our Miss Universe 2018 as one of the ambassadors. We are the only one with such a local ambassador,” said SBP executive director and spokesman Sonny Barrios as he referred to the venues that will be used, the operations and local ambassadors.

SBP never expected to earn the hosting rights again after it lost the bid back in 2019, only to learn later that three countries will co-host it in 2023.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham Tolentino joined SBP chairman emeritus Manny Pangilinan and SBP president Al Panlilio in the festivities, along with FIBA organizing committee chairman Richard Carrion, FIBAWC2023 Ambassador Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray and Tissot representative Denise Dy in initiating the countoff, with FIBA executive director David Crocker.

“Together with our co-hosts Japan and Indonesia, we are so happy to have you join us as we officially begin the countdown to the FIBA World Cup 2023. We have put our hearts and minds into all the final preparations,” said Pangilinan in a statement.

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