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China and the Philippines compete for 2019 Basketball World Cup

Nate Jawai will line up for the Cairns Taipans as they take on the Perth Wildcats away from home. (AFP PHOTO / GERARD JULIEN)
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21st March, 2015
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The International Basketball Federation, commonly known as FIBA, is once again bringing the world’s biggest basketball tournament to Asia following the success of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain.

In June, FIBA’s Central Board will chose between the Philippines and China for the venue of the 2019 FIBA World Cup.

» Basketball World Cup Fixtures

“Looking ahead to future editions of the FIBA Basketball World Cup, it was confirmed that the 2019 event will be played in Asia with China and the Philippines as the two candidates left in the race to host it.

“FIBA’s Central Board will make this final decision at its meeting in June,” FIBA said in a recent statement.

China and the Philippines have been left as the final candidates after they bested France and Germany (joint), Turkey and Qatar. The last time the World Cup was held in Asia was in 2006 in Japan.

Last January, FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann and members of the FIBA Evaluation Commission inspected sites in the Philippines.

Among the venues visited were the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Philippine Arena in Bulacan province and the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, which hosted the 2013 FIBA Asia Championship. The team also inspected the central city of Cebu as a potential site for the tournament.

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The winner between the Philippines and China will receive an automatic berth in the tournament as host nation. Twelve berths will be given to FIBA Europe, seven to FIBA Americas, seven to FIBA Asia and FIBA Oceania and five to FIBA Africa.

Basketball-mad Philippines hosted the World Cup in 1978 when it was still called the FIBA World Championship. Last year in Spain, it received the Most Valuable Fans (MVF) award for the 2014 World Cup.

The sport is also very popular in China where the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), is a top professional league.

The most popular CBA player was Yao Ming, who took the NBA by storm and helped transform the Houston Rockets into one of the hottest teams in the early 2000s.

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