The 19th International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup, the world’s greatest basketball festival, kicks off on the 25th in three Asian countries.
For the first time in history, 32 countries will be divided into 8 groups for the group stage, which will be held simultaneously in Manila, Philippines, Jakarta, Indonesia, and Okinawa, Japan.
The number of participating teams, which increased from 24 to 32 in the 2019 Chinese competition, was maintained this time as well.
Divided into eight groups, the group stage will be played, and the first and second place teams in each group will then decide the winner through the final league and tournament process. Teams placed 3rd and 4th in the group will be eliminated from the ranking match.
The Asian teams participating in this tournament included Australia, China, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon and New Zealand, including host countries Japan and the Philippines.
Another host country, Indonesia, failed to reach the quarterfinals of the 2022 Asian Cup, becoming the first host country to fail to qualify for the finals.
In the case of Korea, which is ranked 38th in the FIBA rankings, due to the new coronavirus infection (Corona 19) last year, it did not participate in the World Cup regional qualifiers held in the Philippines and could not go to the finals.
It is regrettable considering that Lebanon, ranked 43rd lower than Korea, is also going to the World Cup, but considering the spread of Corona 19 last year, it was an inevitable decision to not participate in the preliminary round.
The candidate for the championship is, by far, the United States, the world’s strongest. The United States holds the record for the most World Cup victories with five.
The United States, which was eliminated in the quarterfinals in 2019 and lost three consecutive victories, is trying to regain supremacy as coach Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors of the American Professional Basketball Association (NBA) ascends to the command tower.
Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Jaron Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), and Jaylen Brunson (New York Knicks), among other young players, are on the roster and aim to restore their honor.
Spain, the defending champion, is chosen as the opponent to stop the United States from winning the title. Spain, which has won two championships in the last four World Cups, is continuing its upward trend by reaching the top of last year’s EuroBasket.
Teamwork is the biggest strength as coach Sergio Scariolo, the master coach who led Spain to a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics, is still holding on.
France, which includes Rudi Gobert (Minnesota), Nicola Batum (LA Clippers), and Evan Fournier (New York), who are called the “NBA’s Eiffel Tower,” are also expected to join the race for the title.
Meanwhile, a large number of foreign players from the Korean Basketball League (KBL) will also participate in this tournament.
Philippine guard Lens Abando of Anyang KGC is set to play, and Omari Spellman, the tall center of the same team, will play for the Lebanese national team.
In addition, Asem Marey of Changwon LG fights for the honor of his country wearing the uniform of the Egyptian national team.
Referee Park Gyeong-jin, who received the 2022-23 season KBL 4th round referee award, will also participate in this competition on behalf of KBL.
by: 안전놀이터