Indonesia thrilled about star-studded teams drawn to play in Jakarta

MANILA (Philippines) - Indonesia is in a celebratory mood following the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda because of the outstanding and star-studded teams that will play in Jakarta.

"This is historical. Indonesia will hold the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time, and will be attended by the defending champions and world number one, and other basketball stars."

-Eric Thohir

The national teams of Group G (Spain, Brazil, Iran and Cote d'Ivoire), and Group H (Canada, France, Latvia and Lebanon) will compete in the Indonesia Arena.

Spain, No. 1 in the FIBA World Ranking, won the 2019 World Cup and FIBA EuroBasket 2022.

France finished third at the last World Cup, claimed the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics and reached the EuroBasket 2022 Final.

Canada, the first team to clinch a spot in the World Cup and winners of 11 Americas Qualifiers games out of 12, are expected to be loaded with top-tier players, many of that compete in the NBA.

Indonesia's Erick Thohir, the FIBA Central Board Member who was at the Draw, said: "It's an honor, as well as gratitude because the draw placed two seeds, Spain and France, playing in our new arena.

"This is historical. Indonesia will hold the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time, and will be attended by the defending champions and world number one, and other basketball stars. I can't wait to see them in action, and I encourage sports lovers to celebrate this event with enthusiasm and excitement, to come to the new arena to watching all the world-class games."

"All basketball lovers in Indonesia must be happy with this draw's results," said Budisatrio Djiwandono, the Chief Executive Officer of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Local Organizing Committee of Indonesia who was also in Manila.

"We will host teams with world-class stars. This is an opportunity for us to show that Indonesia is ready to host big games. I hope everything goes well and that basketball lovers in Indonesia will come to watch the games at the FIBA World Cup 2023."

Raffi Ahmad, the Local Ambassador of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Local Organizing Committee of Indonesia, was also in Manila and went on stage during the Draw Ceremony.

A big media personality in his country, Ahmad said: "It was a great experience for me. Thank you to Indonesia, and to the LOC for inviting and trusting me to be a local ambassador representing Indonesia at this FIBA Basketball World Cup event. It feels really good to be able to attend this draw event.

Ahmad did not waste the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the international basketball legends that were present.

"I was very happy to meet some legendary players," he said. "I sat beside Dirk (Nowitzki) on the bus yesterday. I also took photos with Luis Scola and Yao Ming and got their autographs.

"I am very grateful to be part of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023."

FIBA