Manny Pacquiao will lead the Philippines? bid to stage the 2019 FIBA World Cup as the boxing star joins the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) on a trip next month to Geneva, venue of the FIBA?s Central Board meeting that will determine if the Philippines or China will end up getting the nod.
No less than SBP president Manny V. Pangilinan came to see Pacquiao in his Forbes Park home on Wednesday night to detail the country?s quest to win the hosting rights.
The SBP delegation and Pacquiao will travel to Switzerland on June 16 and will have one day to finalize their pitch, said Pacquiao?s business manager Eric Pineda, who will join the trip.
Pacquiao will be made to present before the Central Board on the strength of the country?s immense passion for the sport, citing the phenomenal response of the people when Manila hosted the 2013 FIBA-Asia at the Mall of Asia Arena.
The SBP is also eyeing to bring Fil-Am Eric Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat as well as Los Angeles Laker main man Kobe Bryant, who is an avid Pacquiao follower.
China is said to be importing Yao Ming to help it get the rights.
While China is a legitimate heavyweight in terms of infrastructure, it doesn?t have the fanaticism of the people towards the sport.
Pacquiao?s thrust will be on tourism as bringing the basketball powerhouses to the country would reap massive economic benefits.
The fact that Pacquiao is also heavily into basketball as playing coach of Kia in the PBA tells a lot about his decision to beef up the SBP delegation.
The main drawback for the Philippines, however, is that it hosted the 1978 edition, while China hasn?t hosted the worlds.
The only other Asian host was Japan when Saitama staged the games in 2006.
But there have been repeat hosts before with Argentina hosting the inaugurals in 1950 and in 1990. Brazil was also a repeat host in 1954 (when the Philippines finished third overall) and 1963 and Spain was host in 1986 and 2014.
No other Asian nation has made it to the top three in the worlds aside from the Philippines.
The closest China got to was in 1994 when it ended up eighth.
The FIBA took notice of the Philippines? drawing power during the 2013 FIBA-Asia and this alone will be the SBP and Pacquiao?s focal point when they make their presentation.
The Philippines placed second behind Iran and booked a stint to the 2014 worlds in Spain and earned accolades with its gallants stand against the powerhouse squads like Argentina, Croatia and Greece.
In 2019, the competition will feature 32 squads, eight more from the old cast of 24 with the host getting an automatic berth.
Europe will have the biggest representation with 12, while the Americas and Asia and Oceania will have seven apiece. Africa will be guaranteed five. The SBP believes adding Pacquiao gives them an added punch.
