Clark ready for FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers bubble

FILE: Main gate of the Clark Freeport Zone in Angeles (Photo by Ramon FVelasquez – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA – The Clark Freeport Zone is geared up for the hosting of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers (ACQ) February Window, chief of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Vince Dizon, said.

“Kahit na international ‘yung susunod na challenge, ready tayo (Even if the next challenge is an international event, we are ready),” Dizon said during the online Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum on Tuesday.

The bubble’s setup will be relatively identical to that of the recently concluded Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) season.

All delegations will be billeted at the Quest Hotel in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and follow a hotel-arena – hotel transportation format to the Angeles University Foundation (AUF) Sports and Cultural Center.

Dizon said he expects the seven international teams coming to the bubble to arrive via the Clark International Airport.

He, however, ruled out the possibility of bringing in a live physical audience to the AUF Sports Center, although according to him, it is still subject to change, especially if newer ways of testing for the coronavirus disease 2019 could be made.

“Kailangang pag-usapan ‘yan kasi hindi pa rin tayo pwedeng mag-take ng risk (We need to talk about it because we still cannot take a risk),” Dizon said. “Kailangang pag-aralan pang mabuti ‘yan. Kailangang ikonsulta at bigyan tayo ng go signal ng mga eksperto (It needs to be studied further. We need to consult the experts and they should give us the go signal).”

PBA commissioner Willie Marcial said he was helping the BCDA and FIBA to make the ACQ bubble a huge success.

The third window of the FIBA ACQ will happen on February 18-22.