Newly-appointed Philippine Sports Commission chairman Noli Eala is fully supportive of the country's hosting of the FIBA World Cup in 2023.

He is also asking the basketball-crazy nation to rally behind the Gilas Pilipinas team, which will compete in the international basketball event.

"I encourage everyone, not just the basketball-loving Filipinos, to support the country's hosting of the World Cup, which gives so much pride for the Philippines being one of the hosts, and be behind our very own Gilas Pilipinas team," said Eala, who now leads the government's sports agency, succeeding Butch Ramirez.

A former PBA commissioner, who also served as executive director of the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas a few years ago, Eala was the project director of the original Smart Gilas Pilipinas in 2008.

That team was the precursor of the Gilas program now led by Chot Reyes.

Since basketball is like a religion in the Philippines, Eala and the PSC are all out in supporting the World Cup that is expected not just to showcase its world-class hosting capabilities, but will also provide an economic boost to the country that is still trying to bounce back on the heels of the pandemic.

A basketball lover himself, Eala shared the same passion of the hoop-crazy nation to stand behind our Gilas Pilipinas in the 2023 World Cup.

On 7 September, SBP officials paid a courtesy call to Eala.

Joining Eala in welcoming the SBP delegates was PSC commissioner and Philippine Sports Hall of Famer Bong Coo.

Leading the courtesy visit of the SBP group were executive director Sonny Barrios, who is event director for the FIBA World Cup 2023; Erika Dy, deputy event director; Dickie Bachmann, division chief for operations, local organizing committee; Jude Turcuato, representing Smart Communications, the event's global partner; lawyer Aga Francisco, SBP legal consultant and chair of FIBA legal commission; and John Lucas, head of operations, joint management committee, Philippines, FBWC 2023.