THE 2023 Fiba Basketball World Cup is certainly upon us as the head of the sports’ world governing body is now in town.
Fiba president Hamane Niang arrived in the country on Saturday night with his wife a week before the formal opening of basketball’s flagship event.
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The Fiba head was personally welcomed by Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) president Al S. Panlilio.
A former Minister of Youth and Sports in Mali, the 71-year-old basketball chief was in the country last April to preside over the World Cup draw at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Niang and members of the Fiba Central Board that included secretary-general Andreas Zagklis, also had an audience with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. during the week of the draw.
On Monday, the Central Board will be hosted to a dinner by the SBP led by chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and Panlilio.
All set for Fiba World Cup
The following day, Fiba holds its Congress where around 200-plus basketball federation officials will be coming over for the meeting at Sofitel Hotel.
“The whole (FIBA) Congress will be convening before the actual games on Aug. 25,” said Panlilio.
The congress will be capped by the staging of the Fiba Hall of Fame ceremony on the 23rd where the late Filipino cage great Caloy Loyzaga is part of the this year’s batch of inductees.
“We’re ready to host. We’re hoping the best World Cup for FIBA,” added Panlilio.
The country first hosted the World Cup in 1978 when it was still known as the World Basketball Championship.
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