Philippines to host final window of FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in February 2021

Clark, Philippines has been chosen by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) as the hosts of the third and last window of the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 qualifiers.

The announcement was made by the basketball body on Friday.

The Philippines will host two groups for the final leg of the continental qualifiers which is scheduled on February 18-22, 2021 — Group A (Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand) and Group C (New Zealand, Australia, Guam, and Hong Kong). 

"After successfully holding the games of the Qualifiers in bubbles in November, the third and last window will also be organized as protected environment tournaments in order to ensure health and safety of all participants," FIBA said in its statement.

Last November, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas offered to host the qualifiers, following the model of the Philippine Basketball Association's recently concluded bubble.

The FIBA decided to hold the qualifiers in a bubble format as part of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) prevention measures.

Aside from the Philippines, FIBA will hold the other bubbles in Tokyo, Japan, Manama, Bahrain, and Doha, Qatar.

Gilas Pilipinas swept Thailand in the November window of the qualifiers in Manama and currently holds a 3-0 card in the tournament. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/JCB, GMA News