Canada, home to a number of star NBA players, are sure to play in Jakarta next year.

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — It is confirmed that the Canadian basketball team will compete in Jakarta for the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023. This certainty was achieved after the three World Cup hosts FIBA Basketball World 2023, the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia have determined the team of choice for the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023. participate in the group stage in their respective countries.

FIBA Central Board has confirmed, after consultation with the host nation, that USA (if qualified) will play in the Philippines, Slovenia will travel to Japan and Canada will compete in Indonesia. Slovenia and Canada have already qualified for the World Cup, while the United States are in good position to snatch a ticket for the final qualifying window.

Each host may select a team of their choice for commercial reasons, as their choice will have no impact on the integrity of the event or the draw process. As happened in the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2019 with China, the Philippines, as the hosts of the group stage and finals tournament, will be placed in pot 1 for the draw.

They will join Pot 1 alongside the top-ranked team in the FIBA ​​Men’s World Ranking, presented by Nike after the last qualifying window taking place in February 2023. Therefore, the United States (if they qualify) and the Philippines will be placed into two different pools of the four that will take place in the Philippines.

Japan chose No. 7, Slovenia. Japan and Slovenia will play their group stage in Okinawa, where two groups will be played.

Canada will play in Jakarta, Indonesia, with two of the top 8 men’s teams in the FIBA ​​World Rankings joining them in two groups in Indonesia.

event director FIBA World Cup 2023 Indonesia Budi Satrio Djiwandono was enthusiastic about Canada’s certainty of competing in Jakarta. He also admits he can’t wait for the other top teams around the world to play in the capital.

“Canada is not an arbitrary team as they became the first team to qualify for the FIBA ​​Americas Regional Qualifiers. We know FIBA ​​Americas by strong teams, especially the United States United, Brazil, Argentina, but Canada are undefeated so far in 10 qualifying matches which will end in February next year.The Canadian national basketball team also has a skills development program players with the Toronto Raptors, the 2019 NBA champions,” Budi said in a press release in Jakarta, Wednesday (12/14).

In the past, Budi said, Canada was known for its action star Steve Nash. Today, Canada boasts a number of players who are also stars in the world’s elite NBA basketball competition, including RJ Barret (New York Nicks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder) , Jamal Murray (Denver Nuggets) and Andrew Wiggins (Golden State). Warriors). “Wiggins just won the 2021/2022 NBA season with the Golden State Warriors,” Budi explained.

Apart from this, there is also another quite important young player in the Canadian team, namely Dalano Banton. The 23-year-old Raptors guard just led Canada to fourth place at the FIBA ​​Americaup 2022 after losing to Brazil, who went on to win, in the semi-finals. In mid-November, Banton recorded 27 points, five rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks as the Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons 115-111.

“Indonesian basketball fans will definitely be looking forward to Canada’s NBA stars playing for their country in Jakarta next year. Don’t forget that in addition to great players, Canada has a head coach from caliber of Nick Nurse who is also Toronto Raptors NBA team Hopefully based on the results of the draw in April next year even more world class players and teams will appear in FIBA World Cup 2023 Jakarta,” Budi said.

The full draw for the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 will be determined once the sixth qualifying window in February ends and the 32 confirmed qualified teams are known. These principles will be based on the FIBA ​​Men’s World Ranking and geographical principles.

The draw for the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 will take place in Manila on April 29. This is the second time that 32 teams have competed in the World Cup. There are two venues hosting four groups in Manila, and two groups each in Okinawa and Jakarta, in the men’s showpiece event which kicks off on August 25, 2023.

Several ticket categories for the FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup 2023 are available here. Day tickets as well as single match tickets will be available in 2023.