AS part of the country’s preparations for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) will hold a two-day event featuring UAAP and NCAA member-teams.

FIBA World Cup Joint Management Committee head John Lucas and Deputy Event Director Erika Dy said the event scheduled on June 27 and 28 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City and Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City is aimed at simulating the World Cup atmosphere.

“We’ll actually have our test event on June 27 and 28, where we will hold simultaneous games following the FIBA time which is 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Smart Araneta and 4:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at the Mall of Asia,” said Dy during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Vito Cruz, Manila.

With only 72 days left before the actual competition, Dy said that planning and organization for the staging of the event is almost 80 percent complete.

Dy, a former Ateneo player and coach, said the test event will also be covered live to test the broadcast side of the coverage.

She also said transportation going to both venues is likewise going to be simulated, with the games open to the public.

Lucas, on the other hand, said the opener will be a doubleheader at the Philippine Arena with Italy battling Angola in the curtainraiser and Gilas Pilipinas playing Dominican Republic in the main game.

Lucas said formal opening ceremony will be held in between games.

“This will go beyond the games because we have something special for the fans. We’ll have the opening ceremony, halftime shows. So great value for the fans. Two great games, great opening, halftime shows where you’ll see celebrities,” said Lucas.

Joining Lucas and Dy in the session sponsored by San Miguel Corporation, MILO, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) were PSC chairman Richard Bachmann and local media committee head Virgil Villavicencio.

The Philippines, which first hosted the World Cup in 1978, will have Japan and Indonesia as co-hosts.

Lucas is hoping to surpass the record of 32,000-plus attendance in a FIBA game.

The record attendance was set during the 1994 World Cup in Toronto during the finals between US and Russia.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been invited to grace the opening ceremony.

“He’s been invited, but there’s still no confirmation,” said Dy, noting the late former President Marcos Sr. was the one who did the opening ceremony when the country hosted the World Cup 45 years ago.