MANILA -- Qatar will be the new host of the Group A matches for the third window of the FIBA Asia Cup Qualifiers (ACQ) February window after the Philippines officially begged off.
On Thursday night, FIBA announced that the Qatari capital of Doha will be the site of the games involving Gilas Pilipinas Men, South Korea, Indonesia, and Thailand, meaning the said city will now host three groups including Qatar's own.
Qatar earlier agreed to take over from Japan as the Group B bubble host.
The Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) was initially tasked to host the matches of Groups A and C at the Angeles University Foundation Sports and Cultural Center in a bubble mainly patterned to that of the Philippine Basketball Association.
However, with a travel ban slapped on South Korea, Australia, and Hong Kong that are supposed to be sending their national teams here due to the continuous spread of the new coronavirus variant from the United Kingdom, the SBP, despite constant communications with the Department of Foreign Affairs in hopes of keeping the hosting, had no choice but to give it up.
Australia and Hong Kong are grouped in Group C.
Qatar is not included in the countries listed in the Philippines' travel ban, making it an ideal replacement host.
Gilas Men will play three games in the third window of the FIBA ACQ, two against South Korea and a clash against Indonesia in between. (PNA)
