MANILA – The country’s hosting for the February window of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers at the AUF Sports Arena and Cultural Center in Clark, Pampanga has been called off.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said the hosting of groups A and C for the qualifiers is cancelled due to the travel ban imposed by the Philippines in various countries.
“The SBP wanted nothing else than to be one with the international basketball community as it attempts to bounce back in 2021 after taking a huge hit during the pandemic,” said SBP President Al Panlilio.
“Our commitment to FIBA has never wavered as evidenced by our participation in the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain even amidst the difficult circumstances,” he added.
The country was supposed to host the matches between Group A members Philippines, Indonesia and South Korea as well as Group C members Australia, New Zealand, Guam, and Hong Kong.
Despite the cancellation, the February window for groups A and C could still be held in other countries which will offer to take over as host.
“We’ve exerted a lot of effort into our hosting of the upcoming FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers and this is why it is with great sadness that we announce it is no longer going to happen,” Panlilio said.
“We’ve constantly communicated with our partners from the National Task Force Against COVID-19 and they have informed us that there would be no exemptions from the current travel restrictions announced by the Department of Foreign Affairs,” Panlilio added.
“We look forward to the day that the SBP welcomes FIBA basketball to our shores again,” the SBP official furthered.
Meanwhile, aside from the Philippines, also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic was Tokyo, Japan’s holding of the Group B matches./PN
