Smart brings fans closer to biggest basketball stars in final phase of FIBA World Cup 2023

FIBA global partner Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is all set to bring the world’s biggest basketball tournament and the brightest stars of the sport to the Philippines as the country plays host to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 (FIBAWC 2023).

With Smart as a global partner, the Philippines will have a full homecourt advantage when it comes to epic basketball fan experiences lined up for the rest of the year, leading to the competition’s final phase in August 2023.

Representing one of the host countries, Gilas Pilipinas has already booked a slot at the FIBAWC 2023. Coming on the heels of their February 24 and 27 games at Philippine Arena, the Philippine team holds a 6-4 winloss record entering the final phase, ranking third in Group E of the Asian Qualifiers after New Zealand (8-2) at No. 1 and Lebanon (7-3) at No. 2. The biggest basketball event in Philippine history

For the first time in its history, basketball’s most prestigious international sporting competition will be hosted by multiple nations in Asia: the Phil- ippines, Japan, and Indonesia. As the country prepares to welcome the best players from all over the world, every Filipino basketball aficionado can easily participate, show support, and enjoy a 360-degree, epic basketball fan experience powered by Smart.

“After nearly five decades since the country first hosted the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 1978, the world basketball stage finally returns to the Philippines. The biggest basketball event in Philippine history comes home and is within reach of every Filipino basketball fan. This is really for the supporters of the game. At Smart, we are thrilled to be part of the team that brings everyone closer to where it all happens,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and Smart, Head of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 local organizing committee, and Second Vice President of the FIBA Asia Central Board.

“For Filipino basketball fans, this is the best time to be a Smart subscriber.

As a global partner of FIBAWC 2023, Smart will be raffling off game tickets, streaming FIBAWC games live on the

Smart LiveStream App, and providing an experience of a lifetime with perks and privileges leading up to the final World Cup games,” said Francis E. Flores, SVP and Head of Consumer Business Group – Individual at Smart.

Fans who want to witness Gilas Pilipinas up close and personal, experience the eagerly awaited matchups, and see some of the world’s best basketb all players in action may join ticket raffle contests to be announced with and through Smart’s official social media accounts. Smart subscribers can also stream all the upcoming FIBA games, as well as watch replays of the previous games , via the Smart LiveStream App, the go-to app for exclusive live sports and music events as well as ondemand video content.

Now downloadable on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, the Smart LiveStream App is designed for optimized streaming wherever you are, transforming your smartphone into an electrifying sports arena, allowing fans to be virtually part of the large and live FIBA Basketball World Cup

KBL season.

The win was also payback time for Anyang after losing to SK Knights in the KBL finals last year.

Sun Hyung Kim finished with 25 points and import Jameel Warney 22 for Seoul, which battled back hard in the fourth quarter only to be stymied by key baskets courtesy of Monroe and Spellman to secure the win for Anyang.

SK Knights, reigning KBL champions, took home the runner up purse of $100,000 (P5.5 million).

In the battle for third, Bay Area Dragons routed the Ryukyu Golden Knights, 90-70, for a podium finish and the $50,000 (P2.7 million) prize money at the end of the five-day meet featuring top club teams in this side of the region.

The Dragons finished runner up behind Barangay Ginebra in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup just recently.

With both teams coming off a week-long rest, the CreamlinePLDT duel at 4 p.m. is expected to be tight and fierce although the Cool Smashers will most likely bank on their firepower to halt their rivals’ charge and formalize their stint in post-elims play.

But PLDT coach Rald Ricafort has whipped his squad, made up of Mika Reyes, Jovie Prado, Dell Palomata and Mean Mendrez and reinforced by Michelle Morente, into one fighting, cohesive unit with their new recruit norming 13.2 points in their last four games, Creamline, however, boasts not only of talents in Tots Carlos, Jema Galanza, Ced Domingo and Michele Gumabao but also of championship experience, having reigned in this conference, the former Open, the last three editions.

F2 Logistics, meanwhile, tries to recover from a stinging shutout loss to Petro Gazz last Thursday after shocking Creamline in five and thumping Cignal in three but the Cargo Movers will be as much

Set to compete at the fifth consecutive FIBA World Cup this year, Greece will likely rely on Milwaukee Bucks star and two-time NBA Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo.

2023 crowd cheering at the Philippine Arena, Mall of Asia Arena, and Smart Araneta Coliseum. The Smart LiveStream App is available to all Smart Prepaid, Smart Postpaid, Infinity, TNT, and Smart Bro subscribers, who only need mobile data to access high-quality videos, anytime and anywhere. Non-Smart users may also stream the games live via their PLDT Home Wifi accounts.

Register your Smart and TNT SIMs now

To qualify for all Smart’s ticket pro- mos and perks for the FIBA Basketball World Cup lined up for the rest of the year, subscribers must register their SIM cards in compliance with the SIM Registration Law. Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers may register their SIMs at https://simreg.smart.com.ph/portal, while Smart Postpaid customers simply need to confirm the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application by texting YES to 5858 and wait for the confirmation message from Smart.

By Patricia Taculao

OUNCILOR Alfred Vargas has shared several personalities in the entertainment industry because of his goal of challenging himself as an artist. Last February, he announced the fulfillment of his dream of working with Philippine cinema icons Nora Aunor and Gina Alajar in Pieta.