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FIBA REVEALS ASIA CUP 2021 QUALIFIERS HOST CITIES; GILAS PILIPINAS HEADS TO BAHRAIN AS MANAMA ROOFS GROUP A BUBBLE

FIBA has announced on Sunday the cities that will host the “bubble” for games of the November 2020 windows of the Asia Cup 2021 where Gilas Pilipinas is set to participate.

/ 26 October 2020

The International Basketball Federation confirmed that Manama in Bahrain, Doha, Qatar, and Amman in Jordan will serve as sites when the league resumes actions next month in a bubble.

“The most important criteria in choosing the hosts were health and travel guarantees and compliance with FIBA health protocols, including testing and controlled entry into a secure environment,” said FIBA in a statement.

“The decision to play both windows in bubbles, instead of home and away games, for men’s competitions, was confirmed by the FIBA Executive Committee in September after taking into consideration the health and safety of players, coaches, and officials.”

The Bahraini capital will roof the matches in Group A, which includes national teams in Korea, Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand as well as Group D which is composed of Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, and India.

Doha, on the other hand, will house games in Group B of China, Japan, Chinese Taipei, and Malaysia, and Group E of Qatar, Iran, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, Amman will serve as the headquarters of Window 2 games in Group F. The host for the Group C bubble has yet to be confirmed, leaving Australia, New Zealand, Guam, and Hong Kong still in limbo.

However, with confirmed host cities, FIBA has not yet released dates for the said qualifiers, although the games are targeted to be played in late November as per the original schedule.

“Fiba will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Asia on a daily basis and communicate further updates regarding FIBA Competitions when necessary.”

Following the announcement of FIBA, Gilas Pilipinas will head to Manama, Bahrain next month for the resumption of the 2021 Asia Cup Qualifiers.

Gilas Pilipinas will start their journey in the league’s restart already carrying a 1-0 record in the pool after its 100-70 win over Indonesia last February.

Gilas’ men are set to face South Korea and Thailand in the second window.