World Cup execs grace EuroBasket

With the goal of giving fans and visiting delegations a one-of-a-kind experience, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas is leaving no stone unturned in ensuring a perfect hosting of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The country's basketball governing body took advantage of the opportunity to be invited by the International Basketball Federation to observe the EuroBasket 2022 in Berlin and learn how to stage an international event with such a huge magnitude.

Fans from all over the world will have their eyes fixed on the Philippines along with other co-host countries Japan and Indonesia as 32 teams from four continents converge for basketball's biggest event outside the Summer Olympics.

A total of 40 games will be played in the Philippines, including the playoffs that will be held at the cavernous Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

This will be just the second time that the country will host the event since 1978 when there were only 14 teams from five federations saw action.

With that, the SBP delegation made sure to pay attention and take down notes during their Berlin trip in a bid to come up with a successful hosting of the World Cup.

They witnessed new innovations that could be applied in the country's hosting, including better fan experience that would make the games more exciting, not just for the players and competing teams, but also for the spectators.

"We thanked the FIBA HQ and the DBB for inviting LOC representatives to the Eurobasket 2022," SBP president Al Panlilio said.

"The SBP believes that there is no better way to show our gratitude than by applying what we have learned and delivering the best World Cup ever."

Composing the SBP delegation in the Eurobasket 2022 were Erika Dy, deputy event director for the FIBA World Cup 2023, Local Organizing Committee Operations for FBWC 2023-Philippines head Dickie Bachmann and John Lucas, head of Joint Management Committee Philippines.

Aside from learning from the German LOC, the SBP was also able to strengthen its ties with co-hosts Indonesia and Japan.

The delegation also had engaging discussions with FIBA HQ and FIBA MEDIA – the main stakeholders of the World Cup 2023.