The Philippines will host several games for the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers in February.
FIBA announced on Tuesday, October 12, that only Groups C and D will follow the initial home-and-away format due to the ongoing 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
"Due to the travel restrictions related to COVID-19 in several countries in East and South East Asia, Groups A and B will be played in a "bubble" format in order to ensure the health and safety of all participants," FIBA said in a statement.
The world ruling body for basketball said that the games of Group A scheduled for November have been moved to February and all eight matches will happen at a bubble in the Philippines.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al Panlilio also confirmed the development.
Panlilio said that SBP volunteered to host the games since the Philippines previously hosted the final window of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers last June.
"The FIBA Regional Office Asia has been closely monitoring the pandemic situation in the region and they saw it fit to employ their right to hold the games in a bubble," Panlilio said on Wednesday, October 13, in a statement.
Group A includes the Philippines, New Zealand, Korea, and India.
"FIBA gave the SBP a commendation for the way we hosted the ACQ window and this led to their decision to take us up on our offer to host again this coming February," Panlilio said.
"We’ll be hosting four teams in total, down from the seven the last time, so we’re confident that we could not only repeat what we accomplished but improve on it," he added.
