Co-host Indonesia must earn slot for 2023 FIBA World Cup

Indonesia will have to earn its slot in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, which it will co-host with Japan and the Philippines.

In a press release on Monday, the FIBA Executive Committee announced that Indonesia must land in the top eight of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup in order to qualify for the quadrennial meet.

The Philippines and Japan, which both played at the 2019 FIBA World Cup, already received direct qualification.

"If Indonesia achieves the target of making the top eight of the FIBA Asia Cup in 2021, the number of qualification spots for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Asian Qualifiers will be reduced by one," FIBA said.

The qualifiers for the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup started in February, but FIBA suspended further games due to the coronavirus pandemic.

If Indonesia fails to land in the top eight, FIBA said the general rules for qualification to the FIBA World Cup 2023 shall apply.

The Philippines will host the final phase of the 2023 FIBA World Cup while several games from the group phase will be hosted by Japan and Indonesia. —Justin Kenneth Carandang/MGP, GMA News