Gilas Pilipinas Men and Japan are assured of slots in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the first time that multiple nations will collaborate as hosts, as announced by FIBA last night.
The world’s basketball governing body said both squads, which participated in last year’s edition of the quadrennial event, are now seeded into the main tournament as direct qualifiers.
The Philippines last hosted the FIBA World Cup in 1978 with all games taking place at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.
Japan, on the other hand, had the more recent FIBA World Cup hosting among the two, getting its turn to host in 2006.
However, the same cannot be said in the case of the other co-host, Indonesia.
The situation of Indonesia, which has never played in the FIBA World Cup before, was actually the main topic of the FIBA executive committee’s meeting yesterday.
The committee resolved that Indonesia may need to earn its place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup through next year’s FIBA Asia Cup.
In the ruling, Indonesia, if they get past the qualifiers, which was stalled due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, must need to make the Top 8 of the FIBA Asia Cup to get a FIBA World Cup spot.
Meaning, Indonesia needs to make at least the quarterfinals of the FIBA Asia Cup to clinch its first ever appearance in the FIBA World Cup.
Should Indonesia succeed, the number of spots reserved for Asia-Pacific teams in the FIBA World Cup will be reduced by one.
Otherwise, the original number of Asia-Pacific qualifiers will stand, which means Indonesia must undergo the FIBA World Cup Qualifiers if it fails to make the Top 8 in the FIBA Asia Cup.*PNA
