Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29) — Gilas Pilipinas will face cagers from Angola, Dominican Republic, and Italy in the first round of the group stage in the FIBA World Cup 2023.
Fans saw basketball legends Luis Scola and Dirk Nowitzki leading the draw at the Smart Arena Coliseum Saturday night.
Angola and Italy were the previous opponents of World No. 40 Gilas in the FIBA World Cup 2019 in China, where the national team placed last.
The tournament is co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia and will run from Aug. 25 to Sept. 10.
The Philippines is in Group A and will play its first game at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan before continuing the rest of the group’s matches at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, along with Group B.
Groups C and D will compete at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. This is also the location of the final phase.
Groups E and F will battle it out at the Okinawa Arena in Japan, while Groups G and H will fight at the Indonesia Arena.
Here is the full list of groupings:
Group A
1. Angola
2. Dominican Republic
3. Philippines
4. Italy
Group B
1. South Sudan
2. Serbia
3. China
4. Puerto Rico
Group C
1. United States
2. Jordan
3. Greece
4. New Zealand
Group D
1. Egypt
2. Mexico
3. Montenegro
4. Lithuania
Group E
1. Germany
2. Finland
3. Australia
4. Japan
Group F
1. Slovenia
2. Cape Verde
3. Georgia
4. Venezuela
Group G
1. Iran
2. Spain
3. Côte d’Ivoire
4. Brazil
Group H
1. Canada
2. Latvia
3. Lebanon
4. France
