MANILA, Philippines — One of FIBA’s 50 greatest players and the Sacramento Kings’ most revered big man is fanning the flames of the 2019 Basketball World Cup hype.
Penning a heart-felt letter to cagers across the globe, Vlade Divac, now Kings general manager, said that watching the Yugoslavian national basketball team is what lit a fire in him in pursuing a career in basketball.
"It is really important that the new global calendar will also create opportunities and help develop new talent by enabling younger players from more countries to play international basketball,” Divac wrote.
"More games against good opposition means a chance to enhance skills and raise overall playing standards,” he continued.
The two-time FIBA Basketball World Cup also called on players worldwide to support FIBA's new competition calendar, saying it's as “win-win for players, fans, national federations, leagues and clubs.”
Our very own national squad is bracing for the upcoming FIBA event. Gilas Pilipinas is set to compete in the FIBA Asia Cup in Lebanon in August in a bid to play in the 2019 skirmish.
But before the competition in Beirut, Gilas is set to play with varying lineups in the William Jones Cup and in the Southeast Asian Games.
Divac promotes 2019 FIBA World Cup
Vlade Divac during one of his many stints with the Yugoslavian national basketball team | FIBA file photo