FIBA World Cup finals in MOA Arena, Philippine Arena to host opening games as FIBA switches venues due to traffic, transport concerns

FIBA announced on Friday that the Central Board approved of changes in the playing venues of the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The basketball body said the final phase of the World Cup will be played at the Mall of Asia Arena while two opening round games for the group of the Philippines will be played at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

FIBA said the decision was made after identifying traffic and transportation concerns, despite the improvements tested ahead of the World Cup.

"The main concern leading to the decision was the requirement to provide consistent and swift transfer of the teams and fans to multiple games over the six days of the Final Phase," FIBA said in a statement.

The basketball organization said it was only after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in November 2022 that the testing of the toll road connecting Metro Manila and the Philippine Arena, and it was after several events including the final window of the World Cup qualifiers that the concerns were identified.

"Despite improvements tested with transport and traffic engineers, the Board came to the conclusion that an event with multiple sessions in one day, like the Final Phase of the World Cup, couldn’t be delivered to the standards required for the players and fans experience," FIBA added.

Meanwhile, the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said the changes are part of bringing the best possible experience to the fans.

“The priority that led to this decision is the experience of our fans. This is in service of the Filipino basketball fan, as well as those arriving from all over the world,” SBP President Al Panlilio said in a statement.

Panlilio also thanked Iglesia ni Cristo and the Philippine Arena management for their support of the final decision.

The FIBA World Cup will be played on August 25 to September 10, with the draw happening on April 29.

—Justin Kenneth Carandang/JMB, GMA Integrated News