USA Basketball to play men’s World Cup ENTIRELY in Manila, avoiding travel to Japan and Indonesia

USA Basketball men’s team will enjoy a reduced travel schedule at next year’s FIBA World Cup, where the Americans will play all of their games in and around the Philippines’ capital of Manila, provided they qualify for the tournament.

FIBA made the announcement Monday after giving the event’s three hosts – the Philippines, Indonesia and Japan – the chance to pick one team to accommodate through the group stages. 

The Philippines picked Team USA and will also host the final stages of the tournament from the quarterfinals onward. That means USA Basketball will be able to stay in the Manila area throughout the tournament, which is good news coming off a disappointing seventh-place finish in China in 2019, when several teams completed about travel issues.

The United States team celebrate its gold medal win during the France V USA basketball final for men at the Saitama Super Arena during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 7, 2021 in Tokyo

The massive Philippine Arena will host the finals of the 2023 FIBA World Cup in August 

‘We will have a reduction in the transfers,’ FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis said Monday. ‘You’ll remember that teams changed (locations) two or three times in China. There will be one transfer and this is only for those who will be playing in Japan or Indonesia … and after the transfer we’ll also have an extra rest day before the final phase starts.’

It’s not a surprise that the basketball-obsessed Philippines would choose Team USA, given the NBA stars that are likely to be suiting up for the Stars & Stripes. But the Americans aren’t the only international basketball celebrities in the tournament. All-Star Luca Doncic plays for Slovenia, which was picked to play all of its games in Japan, while Team Canada’s roster of mostly NBA players was chosen to play in Jakarta.

The United States is coming off a gold medal performance at the 2020 Olympics in Japan, but played poorly at the FIBA World Cup in 2019, finishing seventh while being ousted by Serbia. Spain would go on to defeat Argentina in the Finals, 95-75.

Former NBA star and USA Basketball men’s national team managing director Grant Hill was excited to learn that the Americans won’t be traveling during this year’s tournament.

Jayson Tatum #10 of the United States during team warm up before the France V USA basketball final for men at the Saitama Super Arena during the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games on August 7, 2021 in Tokyo

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, left, is presented with a jersey by former NBA player Grant Hill before their NBA game against the Sacramento Kings at the Chase Center in San Francisco last year 

‘I’d like to think it works to our advantage,’ Hill said, as quoted by the Associated Press. ‘I think we have to be mindful and respectful that these players are on airplanes all throughout the regular season and kind of move from city to city, bed to bed, hotel to hotel.

‘It’s a grind. … I think once we get there, and we get settled, we can kind of plant some roots for a couple of weeks. I think it is something that can work to our advantage.’

Both Slovenia and Canada have already qualified for the tournament, along with 15 other teams, but the rest of the field will be decided in February. The Americans are 8-2 in qualifying, using a collection of players from the NBA’s G League as well as international teams.

However, the World Cup roster is expected to have NBA players, such as Boston Celtics stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, as well as Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo.

The US will qualify for the World Cup with a win in Uruguay on February 23 or victory in Brazil three days later.

The draw for the tournament will be held on April 29 in Manila, and the games begin on August 25.

The USA Basketball Men’s National Team during shoot around at the Dongguan Basketball Center on September 11, 2019 in Dongguan, China