By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
The USA men’s basketball national team will be traveling to the Philippines next year after the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) picked them as one of the participants to have their FIBA World Cup group stage games played in Manila.
Together with Japan and Indonesia, the Philippines became one of the hosts of the 2023 World Cup and was given the privilege to pick team USA and play in the country.
Japan chose Slovenia led by Dallas Maverick’s superstar Luka Doncic while Indonesia picked Canada who will be having Andrew Wiggins next year.
An expected star-studded Team USA is set to steal the limelight in Manila as they still need to win their next qualifying games to formalize their spot in the World Cup.
This will also be a redemption campaign for the Americans after the Gregg Popovich-coached team three years ago failed to punch a ticket in the semifinals after falling to France in the quarterfinal stage.
The team was led by Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell, Dallas’ Kemba Walker, Indiana’s Myles Turner, and Boston’s dynamic duo of Jayson Tatum & Jaylen Brown.
As of now, Team USA is yet to release its final lineup for the 2023 World Cup but already had verbal commitments from some NBA superstars.
Team USA is expected to arrive in Manila in February in the sixth and final qualifying window of the FIBA Americas.
If the Americans will sweep its last two games, team USA will then earn an outright berth in the biggest stage of FIBA basketball.
Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas is already included in the list of the World Cup participants as part of the host nation’s perks but will look to test the waters after having Barangay Ginebra San Miguel’s resident import Justin Brownlee inserted in the lineup.
Brownlee will only be needing the signature of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to make it into law after House Bill 6224 was approved on the third and final reading.
Brownlee will be joining former NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson and co-naturalized center Ange Kouame in the lineup.
The savvy scorer will most probably suit up against Lebanon and Jordan on February 24 and 27, respectively.
