HALFWAY done and successful.
The Philippines’ co-hosting of the 19th FIBA World Cup has drawn praises from the executive director of the tournament, with the global basketball extravaganza down to the last eight teams set to do battle in the final phase beginning today until Sunday, Sept. 10, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay.
“The (LOC) has delivered on every front. The experience of the players and the fans, which are the top priorities of the World Cup, has received only high praise,” David Crocker, FIBA World Cup executive director, said. “So, now, we enter the quarterfinals, and the pressure is greater on the teams, so we need to keep delivering everything in a manner that allows them to perform at their best.
“For the fans, the games have been fantastic, and we have some exciting matches ahead of us,” he added.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio shared the same sentiments.
“It’s best to get feedback from the delegates. But from what I’ve been told, it’s all positive.
From the time they stepped on the airport, all the way to the hotels, the treatment of the people, they are all smiling, very warm, and they find solutions for you. Hindi iyong ‘hindi namin problema iyan’,” Panlilio said.
“In every event, they (delegates) approach us and say, ‘Congratulations, it was well done, everybody happy, food is good, the program is good, the whole staging, everything, very, very happy.’”
The FIBA Congress, held last Aug. 23 and 24 and attended by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach and 157 national federation delegates, unanimously voted on a new President in Sheikh Saud Ali Al Thani, treasurer in Ingo Weiss, and Central Board members while naming Hamane Niang as FIBA Honorary President.
A special ceremony was also held to honor SBP chairman emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan, who was awarded with a FIBA Order of Merit.
Gate attendance on opening day last Aug. 25 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan for the Gilas Pilipinas-the Dominican Republic clash drew a new record crowd of 38,115, surpassing the 32,616 set on August 14, 1994 during the World Cup final between the United States and Russia in Toronto, Canada.
Switching to smaller-capacity venues after the inaugurals had little effect on the spectator ratio.
Channel ratings of One Sports the past week increased–driven mainly by the games of Gilas, as basketball fans tuned in to show support in the nationals’ campaign– with the game against Angola showing the highest performance.
