Saweetie, Luis Scola to headline FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda, in Manila
MANILA (Philippines) - Excitement is building up for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda, in Manila, Philippines on April 29.
MANILA (Philippines) - Excitement is building up for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda, in Manila, Philippines on April 29 when all 32 participating nations will find out their opponents for the event.
The event for the prestigious tournament which for the first time will be co-hosted by three nations in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, will take place at 19:30 local time at the Araneta Coliseum.
Argentina legend and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador, Luis Scola, will be on stage to assist with the draw. Scola is the second all-time top scorer in the competition, having appeared in five editions, with his 41 appearances the joint-highest in history. He will line up alongside the iconic Dirk Nowitzki, Central Board Member and Chair of the FIBA Players' Commission.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda will see performances from global hip-hop artist Saweetie and Filipino favorites, Sarah Geronimo and Billy Crawford.
Saweetie is a California-based multi-hyphenate artist, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur. The multi-platinum award winning rapper is widely recognized for her catchy melodies and dynamic rhymes. She grew up in the veritable melting pot of the Bay Area but also traces her roots to the Philippines by way of her mother, where she will be performing for the first time.
Geronimo is a singer, performer, and actress who has attained an array of accolades for her work, including a FAMAS Golden Artist Award and a World Music Award. She is also considered one of the most influential celebrities and influencers in Asia.
Billy Crawford is a Filipino-American singer, songwriter, actor, and TV host known for his smooth R&B and pop music style. He has released several albums and hosted various TV shows in the Philippines and abroad.
Also in attendance for the event will be the Local Ambassadors of each respective host nation: Catriona Gray and LA Tenorio from the Philippines, Takehiko Orimo from Japan, and Raffi Ahmad from Indonesia.
Catriona Gray is a Filipino-Australian beauty queen, singer, and model, who won Miss Universe 2018. LA Tenorio is a former member of the Philippines national team.
Takehiko Orimo is a legend in Japan basketball and played in two previous World Cups including in 2006 when the competition was last hosted in Japan.
Raffi Ahmad is an Indonesian actor, presenter, and singer, best known for his work in the Indonesian entertainment industry.
In addition to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda being available live and in full on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Website, on the FIBA YouTube channel, and official streaming service Courtside 1891, it will be broadcasted live by many of FIBA’s official broadcast partners across the world on both television and digital services.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda will be a major primetime television event in the Philippines on ONE Sports. Meanwhile, in Japan there will be coverage of the event by TV Asahi and Nippon TV along with a live stream via DAZN. For fans in Indonesia, the Draw will be broadcast on MNC Sports.
The draw will sort the 32 qualified teams into eight groups of four teams each. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles will be published before the event.
On Saturday, 29 April, there will be a Draw Festival in Uptown BGC open to the public and will feature performances from popular local acts headlined by Ben & Ben. The Draw Festival will include the launch of the official FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Molten Official Game Ball as well as the launch of the Official Licensing collections that will be taking place on stage with a fashion show. The Trophy Tour presented by J9 will also be tipping off in Manila after the Draw and fans will have the opportunity to see the Naismith Trophy on display at the Draw Festival.
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About FIBA
FIBA (fiba.basketball) - the world governing body for basketball, is an independent association formed by 212 National Basketball Federations throughout the world. It is recognized as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
For further information about FIBA, visit fiba.basketball or follow FIBA on facebook.com/fiba, twitter.com/fiba, instagram.com/fiba and youtube.com/fiba.