Villanueva welcomes PH's hosting of 2023 FIBA World Cup

Senator Joel Villanueva welcomed the successful bid of the Philippines to co-host the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Japan and Indonesia.

"We are extremely happy that basketball-loving Filipinos will finally witness the FIBA World Cup here in our home soil. We congratulate the officials of Samahan ng Basketball ng Pilipinas for their triumphant mission in winning the bid to host the FIBA 2023 World Cup together with Japan and Indonesia," said Villanueva, vice chairperson of the Senate committee on Sports.

"Let's come together to show the world that the Philippines is the best place to play basketball," Villanueva added.

The Philippines-Japan-Indonesia bid beat out the Argentina-Uruguay bid after the candidates threw their final pitch before the FIBA Central Board in Switzerland on Saturday.

The Philippines will host the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the finals.

Villanueva further expressed his excitement as the gold medal game will be held at the Philippine Arena in his hometown Bocaue, Bulacan, the world's largest indoor arena where a record crowd of over 57,000 fans are expected to watch.

"We are also elated that the gold medal game will be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. It will be a good opportunity for us to showcase our world-class sports facilities as well as the hospitality of the Filipinos," Villanueva said.

The last time the event was held in the Philippines was in 1978 at the Araneta Coliseum.