President Marcos Sr. (left). formally opened the FIBA World Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in 1978, while President Marcos, Jr. (right) will open the FIBA World Cup at the Philippine Arena on Aug. 25.
FIBA World Cup: From Marcos to Marcos
PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos will again take centerstage during the formal opening ceremony of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Aug. 25.
President Marcos, who has already endeared himself to both Filipino athletes and fans for the government’s continued supports to sports, will make the ceremonial toss before the much-awaited game between the Philippines and Dominican Republic.
The 8 p.m. encounter pitting the Filipinos and their naturalized player Jordan Clarkson of the Utah Jazz and the Dominicans and Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, is expected to break the existing FIBA single-day attendance record of 32,616.
The record was established when the United States, led by NBA stars Shaquille O’Neal, Reggie Miller, Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp and Alonzo Mourning, routed Russia, 137-91, in the 1994 FIBA World Championship held in Toronto, Canada.
That the country’s No. 1 sportsman, President Marcos, would be personally there at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena on another historic day makes it even more special.
“We’re fortunate, we’re grateful that the President will actually be there to do the ceremonial toss for the Gilas Pilipinas game,” said Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Al Panlilio in the special edition of the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Meralco Conference Hall in Ortigas last Tuesday.
Panlilio said having President Marcos during the FIBA opening would be very special since his father, the late President Marcos, Sr, was also the one who formally opened the FIBA World Cup at the Araneta Coliseum when the country first hosted it from October 1-14, 1978.
“I have the picture of his father, former President Marcos Sr., doing the ceremonial toss at the Araneta Coliseum in 1978. So again it comes full circle that we will now have President BBM to join us. I really like to thank him for accepting the invitation,” added Panlilio.
This is actually the third time that President Marcos will attend a major sporting event and touch base with athletes and officials in less than a month.
Last Aug. 9, President Marcos personally hosted over 300 athletes at the Malacañang Palace for the incentives awarding for the medalists from the 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games and the 12th ASEAN Para Games.
The country’s Chief Executive also attended the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa at the Marikina Sports Center last July 31.
His wife, First Lady Liza Araneta-
Marcos also made the ceremonial first serve on opening day of the Volleyball Nations League Week 3 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last July 4.
