Marcos to Gilas: Philippine supports your FIBA journey

MANILA, Philippines — President Marcos has praised Gilas Pilipinas for its “valiant effort” despite its loss to Dominican Republic at the FIBA World Cup opening Friday night at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan.

“Already you have proven that Filipino athleticism is world class,” the President wrote on Facebook, accompanied by a photo of him with the team at the Philippine Arena holding a basketball.

“The nation stands in full support of your 2023 FIBA World Cup journey,” he said.

Gilas Pilipinas lost to Dominican Republic 87-81.

Marcos also congratulated Filipinos for setting a new crowd record for the World Cup.

“Congratulations as well to every attendee who helped set a new crowd record,” the Chief Executive said.

FIBA said a record crowd of 38,115 attended the opening of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Philippine Arena on Friday.

It erased the previous record of 32,616 fans who watched the US-Russia final at the 1994 World Cup in Toronto, Canada.

Marcos missed reprising his late father and namesake’s ceremonial tossing of the ball as the game had already begun when he arrived at 8 p.m. with his sons Ilocos Norte Rep. Sandro Marcos and Vincent. This was the second time the Philippines is hosting basketball’s most prestigious event.

The Chief Executive was supposed to do the tipoff for the 8 p.m. game. His late father did the ceremonial toss when the country first hosted the FIBA World Cup at the Araneta Coliseum in 1978.

The Philippines is hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup along with Japan and Indonesia.