SBP offers to host February window of FIBA Asia qualifiers

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas has offered to host the next window of the tournament in the Philippines come February.

In a virtual press conference on Thursday, SBP president Al Panlilio said the basketball body has already started talking with Bases Conversion and Development Authority President and CEO Vince Dizon regarding the possibility of holding games in Clark, Pampanga.

Panlilio lauded the conduct of the PBA bubble in the province, which he said can be a model for the upcoming FIBA window.

"[PBA Commissioner Willie Marcial] did tell me the other night, aside from the NBA, the only major league that is doing something like this is the PBA. That is something we can be proud of," said the SBP president.

FIBA decided to conduct the qualifiers in a "bubble" setup, instead of the usual home and away format, as part of its COVID-19 measures. 

The Philippine team will play the November window of the Asian qualifiers in Manama, Bahrain, while the other bubble venues are Doha, Qatar, and Amman, Jordan.

Jong Uichico has been named the Gilas Pilipinas head coach for the November window. He will be steering a young team composed of the Gilas draftees and collegiate stars. —MGP, GMA News