WHEN the continent’s best cagebelles set foot on Philippine shores two years from now, it will be more than just baskets and balls.
“It is not just hosting an event but also creating opportunities for sustained basketball development in these countries,” FIBA Executive Director-Asia Hagop Khajirian said after the world governing body for basketball announced last week the choice of the Philippines as host of the Women’s Asia Cup. “We are excited to return to the Philippines for a FIBA Asia event. We believe hosting the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup event in the Philippines, where basketball has a passionate following, will help FIBA’s efforts to promote women’s basketball in Asia.
“The event will also serve as a boost to the SBP’s efforts to promote women’s basketball in the Philippines,” he added.
It will be the first time an Asian-level tourney will be hosted in the basketball-crazy nation in 12 years.
The Philippines last hosted a continental event when Manila served as a venue for the 2013 FIBA Asia Cup before the country became the site of the World Cup along with Japan and Indonesia in 2023.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio was elated no end.
“The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is proud to be the host for the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup 2027. The federation has always been an ardent partner of FIBA in prioritizing the growth of women’s basketball, and it’s about time for the Philippines to do even more,” Panlilio said.
“The timing is perfect for the Philippines to host this competition as women’s basketball in the country currently has great momentum behind it with the foundation of a women’s professional league and some of our national team players getting opportunities to play abroad.”
Khajirian bared the FIBA Asia Board’s rationale in choosing the other hosts.
“The hosts for the calendar ahead were decided based upon not only organizational capacity,” he said. “But also for the potential of creating a logical progression for basketball development in their countries.”
Indonesia was chosen as the host for the FIBA U-16 Women’s Asia Cup 2027 and FIBA U-18 Asia Cup 2028 as a prelude to them hosting the FIBA U-17 Women’s Basketball World Cup 2028 and FIBA U-19 Basketball World Cup 2029.
Qatar, which will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, was chosen as the host for the FIBA U-18 Asia Cup 2026.
Just goes to show how women dribblers in the Philippines are now being noticed.
