THE country will celebrate its 120th Independence Day on the week that the FIBA 3×3 World Cup is held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan this June.
That is why a grand celebration is in the offing when thei five-day cagefest is held from June 8 to 12 with 40 teams from different countries fighting it out for top honors.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas executive director Sonny Barrios said the municipal government will be preparing for much bigger festivities that will come.
“Aside from basketball, this event will also be an Independence Day celebration,” said Barrios during its launch yesterday at the Bonifacio Global City Activity Center.
Barrios said Senator Joel Villanueva, who is helping stage the tournament in his province, is currently coordinating with Bocaue Mayor Eleonor J. Villanueva-Tugna to make things happen.
For the organizers, holding the finals on June 12 is meaningful because Bulacan was one of the provinces which led the movement for Philippine Independence way back in 1898.
As host, the Philippines will get an automatic slot in tournament, which was won by Serbia and Russia in the men’s and women’s division last year.
“After 45 years, gagawin ulit ang pinakamalaking basketball tournament dito sa Pilipinas. We are very excited about,” said Villanueva who was at the launch with SBP president Al Panlilio and Senator Sonny Angara.
Villanueva later hooked up with visiting FIBA 3×3 managing director Alex Sanchez, who is now in the country to conduct an ocular inspection of the Philippine Arena.
Last year, the Philippines finished 11th overall with a team composed of Kobe Paras, Joseph Quiñahan, Kiefer Ravena and Jeron Teng.
Serbia, which beat the Netherlands in the finals, anchored its games behind Dusan Bulut, Dejan Majstorovic, Marko Savic and Marko Zdero.