THE FIBA World Cup 2023 is now on its semifinal phase, but the basketball fever will continue with the arrival of NBA legends Pau Gasol of Spain, Carmelo Anthony of the United States and Luis Scola of Argentina.

Gasol and Anthony, who are scheduled to arrive in the country on Thursday, and Scola, who flew in Wednesday, will participate in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassadors “Talk Show”at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Grand Pavilion Sunset at Sofitel Manila.

The three legendary players will share their views about the event, preview the finals and discuss their illustrious careers with their respective national teams.

Gasol and former WNBA champion Sue Bird will also make special appearances for FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2026 announcement on Friday, Sept. 8 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

A six-time NBA All Star and two-time NBA champion, Gasol led Spain to the gold medal in the FIBA World Cup in 2006 in Japan and 2019 in China.

The 7-1 Gasol also won two NBA championships with the multi-titled Los Angeles Lakers alongside the late NBA great Kobe Bryant.

Anthony, on the other hand, was a 10-time NBA All-Star with the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks and was a part of the United States team that captured three Olympic gold medals.

Another FIBA Ambassador, Scola, was a regular member of the Argentina national basketball team since 1999, even winning an Olympic gold team medal in Anthens in 2004 and a bronze team medal in the 2008.

Bird, the USA Basketball Female Athlete of the Year for 2021, will talk about the FIBA Women’s World Cup.

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Robert Andaya