MANILA – Gilas Pilipinas will formalize its entry into the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup when it plays in the third and final window of the qualification tournament in Doha, Qatar next month.
As announced by the FIBA Regional Office Asia Thursday evening, Doha will host the Group A matches for the February window instead of the Philippines due to the country’s travel restriction.
Clark, Pampanga was supposed to be the host of the Group A, but the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas scrapped the plan it due to the pandemic.
“We are thankful to FIBA and the Qatar Basketball Federation for all their efforts to make sure that the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers for Group A will push through. We would have loved to host Groups A and C in Clark, but things beyond our control made it necessary to adjust our plans, and we thank everyone for their flexibility,” SBP president Al Panlilio said.
In the Qatar bubble, the national men’s basketball team will clash first with the sharpshooting South Koreans on Feb. 18, followed by Indonesians on Feb. 20 and South Koreans anew on Feb. 22.
Gilas Pilipinas is currently on top of Group A with a perfect 3-0 slate after slamming Thailand twice and Indonesia. A win in the February window will secure the national men’s basketball team’s entrance to the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup.
“We’re confident that our Gilas Pilipinas will be ready for competition comes February, as the SBP continues to work with the IATF to seek their guidance about the protocols necessary for our team to travel to and from Doha,” he added.
Aside from Group A games, the Qatar bubble will also host Group B matches between China, Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia and Group E battles of Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia and host Qatar. /PN
