Philippines back as host of FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers

The 2021 FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers is headed back to Clark, Philippines.

The decision was made by the International Basketball Federation on Friday, less than 24 hours after Qatar cancelled the hosting of one of the continental qualifier’s bubbles due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) situation in their country.

FIBA Executive Director-Asia Hagop Khajirian in a letter said four national federations expressed their intention to host one or more groups, but the basketball body decided to give the hosting duties to the Philippines and Lebanon.

The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said the easing of the government’s travel restrictions was a factor in reclaiming the hosting rights for the qualifiers.

With the recent development, SBP thanked the Qatar Basketball Federation for stepping up during the first time the Philippines cancelled the hosting of the FIBA bubble.

“The Qatar Basketball Federation was there to help out when we could not push through with our hosting and it’s just right for the SBP to be here for them and for FIBA as well,” SBP president Al Panlilio said in a statement.

FIBA said the details of the logistics and the new dates for the qualifiers will be announced in the next 10 days.

Qatar was supposed to host Group A (Philippines, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand) and Group B (Japan, China, Chinese Taipei, Malaysia) of the continental qualifiers.

Prior to Doha, the Philippines was supposed to host Group A and Group C (New Zealand, Australia, Guam, and Hong Kong) for the February window.

However, the said hosting was cancelled due to travel restrictions imposed by the Philippine government.

Philippine authorities decided not to extend the travel restrictions on countries with new coronavirus variants last month. – RC, GMA News