2021 FIBA Asia Cup Rescheduled Due to COVID-19 Pandemic

With ongoing 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, it looks like it isn't going to stop hitting humanity as it has made a lot of people start looking forward to 2021. The entire world has been virtually stopped due to the pandemic and the world of basketball is in the same situation as everyone else. 

Originally, Gilas Pilipinas was supposed to play a home game against Thailand as part of the first round of the 2021 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Asia Cup qualifiers before FIBA decided to postpone the said game due to the fact that COVID-19 was already spreading out like a wildfire. And despite calls from the Indonesian basketball community, FIBA still pushed through with the Gilas-Indonesia game last February. While the national team came out victorious in that road game and the rest of the Asia Cup qualifiers has been postponed, it clouded the preparations of Gilas Pilipinas and the current situation the local basketball scene is dealing with.

A change in the FIBA schedule is inevitable. It can be recalled that the Tokyo Olympics which was originally set this July has been rescheduled and will happen from July 23, 2021 to August 8, 2021. Originally, reigning champions Australia is set to open their title defense starting August 3, 2021, and that start date would happen while the Olympics is still ongoing by then. FIBA moved the Asia Cup to August 17, 2021 until August 29, 2021. And the FIBA Asia Cup isn't the lone FIBA-sanctioned event that has been rescheduled due to the ongoing pandemic. 

The FIBA Olympic Tournament for the men's division has been moved two weeks before the Olympics in Tokyo and the Asia Cup for the women's division has been rescheduled for September 2021. The schedules of other FIBA tournaments that are set for 2021 and 2022 have been updated as well. 

While there's no word yet as to when the Asia Cup qualifiers will resume, there's one thing that is certain for now: FIBA Asia Cup is still a go for 2021. 

Photo is from the Facebook page of the FIBA Asia Cup