MIES (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023) - FIBA's Central Board on Saturday announced that Philippines/Japan/Indonesia will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

Here is reaction from members of the delegation following the announcement made by FIBA President Horacio Muratore.

Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman Emeritus of the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA)

"I think it's an event that makes all Filipinos very happy and I'm sure all of the fans in Indonesia and Japan are equally happy. As you know we are just a basketball crazy country. FIBA has been gracious enough to give us the hosting rights for the FIBA Basketball World Cup. It's an extremely important event for Philippines basketball to have. (Since Philippines hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 19780) World basketball has moved leaps and bounds and so this is a very global event which I'm sure will be well covered not only by traditional media but also social media globally. I'm glad that Philippines is one of the most active participants in social media. Hosting the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Philippines, Japan and Indonesia is good because it does spread the basketball fever around in those countries instead of concentrating it in one place. The work with Japan and Indonesia starts today. I'm sure at the end of the day it will be an excellent tournament for all three countries and for FIBA and for world basketball."

Vincent 'Chot' Reyes, Philippines senior men's national team head coach

"We're very, very happy. We will have the world's best basketball players, some of the world's best athletes coming to Manila and we're very excited. We can't be any prouder. (Asked what he would compare the FIBA Basketball World Cup taking place in the Philippines to) It's like the Pope coming to Manila (laughs)! When the Pope came down a couple of years back, we had about 6 million people lining out on the streets under the heat of the sun and under heavy rain. Like we always say, in the Philippines basketball is a religion and so there are a lot of believers, a lot of followers and for the sport's biggest competition to come to our country is really special for us. I think the cooperation with Japan and Indonesia has been unbelievable. They're as much a part of this as we are in the Philippines. A lot of preparation and effort went into the bid. Now the real work begins. We have to come together to make sure that we're able to host and conduct a really great tournament."

Erick Thohir, President of the Indonesian National Olympic Committee and FIBA Central Board Member

"We are very happy. It's a good partnership with Philippines and Japan and we will deliver the best FIBA Basketball World Cup that we can do. Indonesia is hosting the Asian Games right now and I think this is good practice for us before the World Cup in 2023. We have three countries that can support each other and present a vast diversity. Between them, Indonesia, Philippines and Japan have a combined population of 500 million people. I think it's a good partnership for three countries. And as we know Indonesia and Philippines are among the fastest growing countries in Southeast Asia now. So I really see there being good cooperation for Indonesia, Philippines and also Japan. (Asked what it means to have a first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup hosted by more than one country) I think it's creating bigger opportunities for many countries. I think the most important thing is how we grow basketball throughout the world. Of course Indonesia is one of the countries that we want to see become a major market in the future."

Yuko Mitsuya, President of the Japanese Basketball Association (JBA) and FIBA Central Board Member

"The basketball environment has changed a lot in Japan since the country hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2006. We now have the B League, the professional basketball league, which has helped us be more dynamic. (Asked about the cooperation with Philippines and Japan) We need to communicate regularly with Philippines and Indonesia and think about not just Japan succeeding in 2023 but all three countries."

FIBA