ALL-OUT SUPPORT PSC rallies behind World Cup hosting

It takes teamwork for the country's hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup to be a success.

And that's what exactly happened as the all-out support of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and the national government had built the momentum that paved the way for the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas to successfully roll out its hosting of the biggest and most prestigious basketball event in the world.

President Marcos had pulled all stops to make sure that the World Cup would be a success.

Aside from allotting a hefty P1 billion budget, the Chief Executive also appointed an official who knows the operations of the 32-nation conclave like the back of his hand as PSC chairperson — Richard "Dickie" Bachmann.

Bachmann hit the ground running.

Shortly after assuming the role in the last few days of 2022, he immediately assembled an Inter-Agency Task Force through Administrative Order 5 that aims to support the SBP in its World Cup hosting.

Bachmann was tasked to head the special group with key officials from various government agencies.

He also made all government facilities and venues available to the Local Organizing Committee with the Philsports Arena in Pasig City and the Rizal Memorial Coliseum and Ninoy Aquino Stadium serving as training venues.

"We are optimistic that with the immense support from our national government and the PSC, many of our Filipino basketball fans will full up the seats every game and be part of history," said Bachmann, a former star player at De La Salle University and son of cage great Kurt Bachmann who served as chief of the LOC prior to his appointment as PSC chairperson.

"For teams playing at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, they will be training at Philsports and for teams playing at the Mall of Asia Arena, they will be training at Ninoy Aquino Stadium."

Aside from the funding and giving support through the creation of an IATF, the government also helped in boosting the ticket sales and easing traffic by canceling the classes in public schools and government offices on Friday
— the day in which Gilas Pilipinas will face the Dominican Republic in the opening salvo at the Philippine Arena — in Metro Manila and Bulacan areas.