32 teams. 8 pots. 8 groups. 3 countries.
The seedings have been set for the FIBA World Cup 2023 Draw, which will take place on April 29 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
This draw is needed to separate the 32 qualified nations into eight groups, called Groups A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H. Each group will have four teams.
To complete this grouping task, the draw will bank on one feature: the pots.
What are the pots and how were they organized?
To clarify a common misconception among some fans, the pots are NOT the groupings for the first round of World Cup play.
Instead, the pots assure that squads will not face a rival in the rankings or in their region right away.
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All 32 teams were sorted into the pots based on the latest FIBA men's rankings.
Spain, USA, and Australia—the top three teams in the FIBA rankings—are in the first pot. France, Serbia, Slovenia, and Lithuania are in the second pot because they are next in the rankings. The next-ranked teams are in the succeeding pot, and so on.
The Philippines is seeded in Pot 1 by virtue of being the group and finals phase host.
How do the pots play a role in the draw?
The pots, which have essentially separated the teams into tiers, will assure equal distribution. Pots 1, 3, 5, and 7 will feed into Groups A, C, E, and G. Meanwhile, Pots 2, 4, 6, and 8 will feed into Groups B, D, F, and H.
Aside from that, each region shall also have no more than one team in a group, except for Europe. Since there are 12 participating European nations, there can be one to two European squads in a group.
Long story made short: with the aforementioned stipulations in place, the draw will seek to ensure fair groupings for the initial phase of World Cup play.
The whole process is still in essence a random draw. Luck will still play a role, so, all the more should fans tune in to extend the good vibes to their squads.
Who plays where?
Three countries will host the 32 teams for the world event. This means there will be three locations for the group play: Manila, Okinawa, or Jakarta.
Groups A and B will play at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila. Groups B and C will compete at the Mall of Asia Arena, also in the Philippines.
Groups E and F will play at the Okinawa Arena in Japan, while Groups G and H will compete at the Indonesia Arena.
Witness the actual draw live at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on April 29. Get your tickets at www.ticketnet.com.ph