The Philippines, which is co-hosting the 2023 FIBA World Cup with Japan and Indonesia, was drawn into Group A with Italy, Dominican Republic, and Angola. The draw was held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Manila.
Gilas Pilipinas will open its campaign against the Dominican Republic on August 25. The team will then play Angola on August 27 and Italy on August 29.
Italy is the highest-ranked team in Group A, coming in at No. 10 in the FIBA World Rankings. The Philippines and Italy will meet again in the 2023 FIBA World Cup, four years after the Italians dominated the Filipinos in a 108-62 win in the 2019 FIBA World Cup.
The Dominican Republic is ranked No. 23 in the FIBA World Rankings. In 2021, Gilas’ all-cadets crew coached by Tab Baldwin lost to the Dominican Republic with a score of 94-67 in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Angola is ranked No. 41 in the FIBA World Rankings. They defeated the Philippines, 84-81, in overtime in a thrilling encounter at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Gilas Pilipinas will have its work cut out for it in Group A. The team will need to play its best basketball if it wants to advance to the next round. The Philippines has a good chance of beating Angola, but it will need to play a near-perfect game against Italy and the Dominican Republic.
The 2023 FIBA World Cup will be held from August 25 to September 10, 2023.
The FIBA World Cup is the biggest basketball tournament in the world. The 2023 tournament will feature 32 teams from around the world. The top two teams from each group will advance to the next round.
The tournament will also serve as qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics, where the top two teams from each of the Americas and Europe, and the top team from each of Africa, Asia and Oceania, will qualify alongside the tournament's host France.
Gilas Pilipinas is hoping to make a deep run in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The team has a good chance of advancing to the next round, but it will need to play its best basketball if it wants to win a medal.
