Coach Chot Reyes did not really like what he saw after Gilas Pilipinas was bracketed with Angola, Dominican Republic, and Italy in Group A for the FIBA World Cup in Manila slated this August in Manila, Japan, and Indonesia.
“There’s no such thing as an easy draw. The best I can categorize it is that it’s not ideal,” said Reyes on Saturday during the World Cup draw at the Araneta Center.
“It can be better. I would have hoped that the last pick was Ivory Coast, instead of Angola. Because Angola is a tougher team than Ivory Coast.”
Team Philippines will play all its group matches at the Araneta Coliseum
Team USA, to be represented by a bunch of NBA stars, will get to play in Group C at the Mall of Asia Arena, with Greece, Jordan and New Zealand.
Powerhouse Serbia got picked with Puerto Rico, Sudan, and China in Group B, with competitions also at the Araneta Coliseum.
Lithuania is bunched with Montenegro, Mexico, and Egypt in Group D, and they will meet in preliminary encounters, also at the MOA Arena.
Okinawa, Japan will be the venue for Group E and F clashes. Group E will cohost Japan, Australia, Germany, and Finland.
Slovenia, Venezuela, Germany and Cape Verde are in Group F.
Spain, Brazil, Iran and Cote D’Ivorie will match in Group G over in Indonesia, while Canada, France, Latvia and Lebanon have been placed in Group H, with their games also slated in Jakarta.
The highly anticipated FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw was presented by Wanda, with all 32 nations now aware of who they will face at the flagship event.
Laying out the pathway for all teams in their journey to be crowned champions, the excitement has intensified ahead of the 19th edition of the prestigious tournament, which will take place from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Held at the Araneta Coliseum in the Philippines capital, it proved to be a spectacular event, with Argentina legend and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador, Luis Scola, on stage to assist with the draw, as well as basketball icon Dirk Nowitzki, a Central Board Member and Chair of the FIBA Players’ Commission.
It was also attended by the FIBA Central Board, under the leadership of FIBA President Hamane Niang and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis, the Chairs of the three LOCs, local ambassadors and special guests from the host nations, as well as representatives from participating National Federations.
Those present enjoyed performances from global hip-hop artist Saweetie and an array of Filipino favorites including Sarah Geronimo and Billy Crawford.
A huge audience watching around the globe also followed the Draw via the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 website, FIBA’s YouTube channel, the official streaming service Courtside 1891, or many of FIBA’s official broadcast partners from across the world who covered the event on both televisions and on digital platforms.