MANILA (Philippines) - The Local Organizing Committee in the Philippines has welcomed Toyota Motor Philippines as a partner of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.  

The Philippines will co-host FIBA's flagship men's event with Japan and Indonesia, which is to be staged in five different venues across the three countries from August 25 to September 10, 2023.

Hailing the sponsorship deal with Toyota Motor Philippines in this year's global event that will see 52 of the 92 games played in Manila, including the Final Phase, are SBP Chairman Emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan and SBP President Al S. Panlilio.

"It is with great appreciation and warmth that we welcome Toyota Motor Philippines to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 family," said Pangilinan, a member of FIBA's Central Board and Chairman and CEO of Metro Pacific Investments Corp.

"This partnership will go a long way in ensuring the success of our country's efforts to host this grand event, a national endeavor if ever there was one, since this marks only the second time in our history that we will be hosting the biggest international basketball event."

The Philippines played host of the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 1978, where the former Yugoslavia emerged as champions.

For his part, Panlilio, a member of the FIBA Asia Board and President and CEO of PLDT and Smart Communications, sounded off a call to potential sponsors.

"As we thank Toyota Motor Philippines for agreeing to be part of this once in a lifetime experience, we are inviting others as well who wish to also share in this global activity, this journey which in a sense is truly a merger of world caliber sports and global business opportunities."

Atsuhiro Okamoto, President of Toyota Motor Philippines, stated: "By being part of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 journey, one of the biggest global sports events this year, we aim to further inspire and encourage more Filipinos to use the power of movement to reach their full potential. This is the spirit of our START YOUR IMPOSSIBLE global sports campaign. With this partnership and the unity basketball brings to Filipinos, we are always moving closer to our goal of producing happiness for all." 

David Crocker, Executive Director of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, also expressed his gratitude to Toyota Motor Philippines for its involvement in the event.

"To be able to welcome such a prestigious brand as Toyota Motor Philippines as a partner for our pinnacle men's event is of special importance to us, and we look forward to working closely with them in the near future," said Crocker.

Highlighting the Toyota Motor Philippines brand in various local events leading up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will be a top priority in the lead-up to the historical tip-off on August 25 with the world's top 32 teams.

 FIBA