The heavyweights of basketball's governing body will be coming to the Philippines.
The Philippines will be providing a taste of what it's like to host the biggest basketball tournament in world, as top officials and delegates will be visiting later this month for the FIBA World Cup 2023 draw.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios told Noli Eala on Power & Play that all the VIPs of basketball's governing body will be coming.
"The top heavyweights will be here for the draw," Barrios said. "It's second only to the games, the event."
Barrios confirmed that SBP chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan will be hosting a FIBA Central Board meeting. This will include FIBA President Hamane Niang, Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, and Treasurer Ingo Weiss. Pangilinan is also a member of the board, along with China's Yao Ming. Dirk Nowitzki is the players' representative.
What happens in the draw?
The draw will take place in the Philippines on April 29. This will determine the groups for the 32 nations participating in the World Cup.
There are 12 teams from Europe, eight from Asia, seven from the Americas, and five from Africa.
The teams will be sorted into pots, which will be used to distribute the countries into eight groups of four for the first round.
Organizers will also be considering that four groups will be playing in the Philippines, two will be in Japan, while two more will be in Indonesia.
Barrios explains that the first pot has the top ranked teams. The three host countries have already selected their preferred teams from this pot to play in their respective areas. Team USA will play in the Philippines, Slovenia will compete in Japan, while Canada will head to Indonesia.
The SBP official noted that as the host for the group and final phase, the Philippines has the advantage of being placed in Pot 1. This means there will be no chance of a face-off between Team USA and Gilas Pilipinas in the group stage.
But after April 29, that's when the real homework begins for head coach Chot Reyes and his assistants Tim Cone and Jong Uichico.
"Iaangkop mo na 'yung team mo dun sa kagrupo mo. 'Di ka basta [magpapadala] ng best of the best blindly," Barrios said.
Only the top two teams in each group will advance to the second round. From there, the top two from the new four groups of four will head to the quarterfinals. That will take place in the Philippine Arena.
(With reports from Rainier Mira, One Sports Digital)