As the country’s staging of the FIBA Basketball World Cup enters the final stretch, the Philippine Sports Commission has been moving heaven and earth to guarantee a memorable hosting that will eventually become a part of basketball lore.

Just days after the PSC met with 37 government agencies, chairperson Richard “Dickie” Bachmann told a group of scribes Thursday night that the entire nation will have to join hands to ensure its success.

“For the country to host a world event, we need everybody’s help,” Bachmann, who used to be part of the World Cup local organizing committee, said.

“It’s the first meeting but there will be more meetings with the Inter-Agency as we get closer to the FIBA World Cup.”

The Philippines is co-hosting the world championships alongside Indonesia and Japan but it will be in the country that the championship game and crucial matches are taking place.

The massive Philippine Arena, which can accommodate 55,000, will be the venue for the final phase starting 5 September until 10 September.

The other competition sites in the Philippines are the SM Mall of Asia Arena and the Araneta Coliseum.

Bachmann insists that 100 percent cooperation from all agencies and organization is needed for the organizing Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas and the entire nation to project a glowing image of the country.

Thirty-two of the world’s best squads are taking part in the tournament that is at par with the level of play of Olympic basketball.

SBP president Al Panlilio earlier said that one of the goals during the 2023 hosting is to break the attendance record of 35,000 when host Brazil battled the United States at the Maracanazinho in Rio de Janeiro during the 1954 edition of the world championships.

This year’s hosting will be the Philippines’ second time.

The first time the country hosted was in 1978 with the Araneta Coliseum as main venue and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum as secondary site.

A spike in tourism is also expected during the competition period as supporters of the participating countries are expected to blow into town.