Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 5) – Gilas Pilipinas and the two other Group A teams in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers have earned a qualification in the next round, the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) announced on Friday.
“Elsewhere, New Zealand and India will progress alongside World Cup co-hosts Philippines from what is now remains a three-team Group A after (South) Korea were disqualified from the Qualifiers,” FIBA said in a statement.
FIBA decided to disqualify South Korea from the competition due to its failure to send a team in the recent Asian qualifiers window held in Manila, as most of their cagers were stricken with COVID-19.
The disqualification dashed the South Koreans’ hope of playing in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup and the 2024 Paris Olympics, since the world tilt will serve as the qualifier for the Olympics and the Olympic Qualification Tournament.
Gilas holds a 1-1 record while New Zealand has an unbeaten slate of 3-0. India sits at the bottom of Group A with 0-3.
Also punching their slot to the next round of the World Cup Asian qualifiers are Australia, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, and Lebanon.
The next round of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Asian qualifiers will be held on Aug. 22-30.
