Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) – The country’s hosting of the final stage of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will now be held at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City instead of the original venue at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan to address traffic and transportation concerns.
The 55,000-seater indoor stadium in Bocaue was supposed to host the six final matches, including the championship game, of the international tournament.
\”The main consideration leading to the decision was the requirement to provide consistent and swift transfer for the teams and fans to multiples games over the six days of the final phase,\” said FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Executive Director David Crocker in a statement.
\”Despite improvements tested with transport and traffic engineers, the board came to the conclusion that an event with multiple sessions in one day like the final phase of the World Cup must be delivered to the standards required for the players and fans experience,\” he added.
The basketball tournament will run from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10, with the matches for the group phase to be held at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and SM MOA Arena for the Manila leg.
Other venues for the group phase matches are Japan’s Okinawa Arena and Indonesia’s Indonesia Arena.
Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas President Al Panlilio said the decision to change the venue for the final phase is \”in service of the Filipino basketball fan, as well as those arriving from all over the world.\”
