PREPARATIONS for the country’s co-hosting of the FIBA World Cup is on course with 72 days left before the Olympics of basketball makes its return here.
Joint Management Committee head John Lucas and Deputy Event Director Erika Dy announced yesterday that planning and organization for the staging of the event is almost 80 percent complete, with a test event to be held later this month to simulate the World Cup atmosphere.
“On June 27 and 28, we’ll actually have our test event where we will hold games following the FIBA time which is 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Smart Araneta and 4:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia. So simultaneous mangyayari ang mga laro,” Dy said during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the main lobby of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Joining them in the public sports program backed by San Miguel Corp., Milo, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann and local media committee head Virgil Villavicencio.
A combination of UAAP and NCAA teams will during the test games, which will be covered live to test the broadcast side of the event.
Transportation going to both venues will likewise be simulated, with the games open to the public.
“This means nakalatag na lahat ng plano. It’s just all about execution,” added Dy, a former Ateneo player and coach.
The Philippines, which first hosted the World Cup in 1978, will have Japan and Indonesia co-hosting the August 25 to Sept. 10 event, with all of the playoff games set at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The opener will be a doubleheader at the Philippine Arena featuring Gilas Pilipinas against Dominican Republic in the main game and Italy versus Angola in the curtain raiser.
The formal opening ceremony will be held in between games.
“This will go beyond the games because we have something special for the fans. We’ll have the opening ceremony, halftime shows. So great value for the fans. Two great games, great opening, halftime shows where you’ll see celebrities,” Lucas said.
Lucas also reiterated the earlier call of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to surpass the record of 32,000-plus attendance in a FIBA game by filling up the Philippine Arena on opening day.
