THERE remains a slight chance of scheduled FIBA World Cup games in the Okinawa Prefecture being transferred and held in Manila during the two-week stretch of the quadrennial showcase.
And how’s that possible?
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) said holding the Japan group games in the country instead is an option just in case a typhoon hit the Japanese region in the duration of the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 basketball showcase.
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SBP president Al S. Panlilio disclosed in a special Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum on Tuesday that such contingency has been agreed upon with FIBA if ever such case of weather disturbance happens.
“Marami ring dumadaan na bagyo sa Okinawa. And they’ve spoken to us that worst-case scenario, if they can’t play the games in Okinawa, they will move the two groups (here) in the Philippines,” said Panlilio.
Both Group E and F games are scheduled to be played at the newly-built Okinawa Arena.
Playing in Group E are Germany, Finland, Australia, and Japan, while in Group F are Slovenia, Cape Verde, Georgia, and Venezuela.
Okinawa of course, is known to be surrounded by East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, with typhoon season usually expected from June to November.
“May mga contingency plans kami naman with FIBA,” said Panlilio, who hopes no weather disturbance hit both the Philippines and Japan – and even co-host Indonesia – during the two weeks of the World Cup.
In such a case, both the Okinawa group will be split being played between the Smart Araneta Coliseum and the Mall of Asia Arena.
“Worst-case scenario, what will happen is that they will play the first game at 10 a.m.” said the SBP chief. “We’re playing (regular schedule) at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. There will be more games in the venues, but again that would just be a contingency plan.”
Typhoon threat
The Philippines, to say the least, is also under rainy season at the moment which lasts until October.
Just three weeks ago, typhoon Egay brought heavy rains to the country before lashing Taiwan under its international name Doksuri.
Panlilio hopes the country would be hosting all World Cup games without any weather interruption.
“I know ED (Executive Director) Sonny (Barrios) has been bringing eggs to Santa Clara,” said the SBP head, obviously referring to the popular monastery where offering eggs in exchange for prayer petitions for good weather is practiced.
“Twenty three eggs for the past three weeks. 23 for 2023 World Cup,” he added. “So we’re just hoping for the best.”
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