Overtime

FIBA eyes Clark as bubble venue

Commissioner Willie Marcial hinted that FIBA will be observing the bubble PBA exhibited at Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles, Pampanga.

/ 30 September 2020

May gustong pumunta na gayahin ‘yang bubble ng Clark. Balita ko, tinitignan po tayo ng FIBA kung papaano,” Marcial said in a press conference on Tuesday.

It was announced last September 18 that the FIBA Continental Cup Qualifiers were to resume its games in two windows in November 2020 and February 2021.

Games will be staged in mini bubbles with four or eight teams of one or two qualification groups depending on the regional federation.

Unofficial reports said that Thailand will be the venue for the Asia qualifiers, where Gilas Pilipinas is a part of, but the international governing body for basketball has yet to announce which countries will be the hosts for the bubble.

Bases Conversion Development Authority (BCDA) President Vince Dizon is open to the idea of hosting FIBA games in Clark.

Makakaasa po tayo, handa po tayo dito at sisiguraduhin natin na kakayanin natin kung gugustuhin ng Fiba,” Dizon said.

In addition, Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 had the same interest for staging their first bubble season in Clark according to Marcial.

They initially proposed to host a semi-bubble for its first season as a professional league at the Inspire Sports Academy in Laguna.

However, Chooks 3×3 was not given the permission from IATF as DOH wanted the league to stage a full-bubble setup for its games.

If the PBA bubble will be successful, Clark might be hosting another tournament if FIBA and Chooks 3×3 will consider it as a venue for their tournaments.

“So alam ko, ‘yung 3×3 at ‘yang FIBA, ‘pag naging successful tayo, baka gamitin din po ‘yang Clark — ‘yun po ang balita ko,” Marcial said.