His name is Luka [Doncic].
And he and his Slovenian team are headed to Manila from Okinawa for the Final Phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 starting Tuesday, September 5, at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
The quarterfinal round, classification, semifinals, and final will run until September 10, Sunday, when it will be known whether or not Spain would have successfully defended the title it won by routing Argentina 95-75 in the 2019 World Cup championship game in Beijing.
In anticipation of the arrival of Doncic and rest of the World Cup players from Group Phase action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City, Okinawa Arena in Japan, and Indonesia Arena in Jakarta, the SM Mall of Asia Arena is rolling out a virtual red carpet to welcome the eight teams that have made it to the playoffs of the global showpiece.
Already housed at the state-of-art facility during the preliminaries and now safely into the quarters is the USA and its star-studded coaching staff, as well as Lithuania, bannered by New Orleans Pelicans big Jonas Valanciunas.
Looking to join the Americans and Lithuanians in the playoffs are four-way tied teams – Serbia, Dominican Republic, Italy, and Puerto Rico – from the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
They are to resolve the impasse via do-or-dies on Sunday, September 3, with the winners moving on.
Doncic, the superstar guard of the Dallas Mavericks, will backstop Slovenia against co-Group K leader Germany and its multiple NBA players, led by Toronto Raptors playmaker Dennis Schroder and Wagner brothers Mo and Franz when they clash to break a 4-0 deadlock at the end of the group stage.
Both teams are booked for an early afternoon flight from Okinawa to Manila on Monday, September 4.
Over at Jakarta, stunning upsets posted by Kristaps Porzingis-less Latvia against Spain, and Brazil over Shai Gilgeous-Alexander-led Canada, resulted in another chaotic four-team tie on 3-1 slates, which are to be decided by two knockout games also on Sunday, September 3.
The winners will take a mid-afternoon flight to Manila on Monday, September 4, for their quarterfinal matches against USA and Lithuania.
Mark Solano, the SM Mall of Asia Arena venue head from the FIBA Local Organizing Committee, said that while no additional physical structure has been constructed, entertainment numbers to enhance game experience are on the dock.
“Mas makakaganda ‘pag dating ng playoffs at sa final, may mga show na naka-set up,” said Solano. “MOA Arena is prepared and ready to house the Final Phase.”
Even the comfort of long-legged FIBA ambassadors, such as former NBA players Luis Scola and Carmelo Anthony, and even Dirk Nowitzki, chairman of the FIBA Players’ Commission and FIBA Central Board member, has been considered.
“May pinakalas si FIBA sa’min na mga upuan tapos pinalagyan ng platform para sa ginhawa ng mga VIPs, para sa legs nila kasi mahahaba sila e,” Solano said.
The assistance provided by two longtime former employees of the modern venue also known as the country’s entertainment and sports Mecca, venue manager Ron Dawa and venue lead coordinator Billy Beroy, has been immeasurable as well, said Solano.
Except for unending rains, Solano said everything else is in place for the expected influx of spectators with the arrival of Doncic and company on Tuesday.
“Nakahanda po tayo from the start, from the venue to the security and the traffic flow, MOA Arena is prepared to the hilt for the Final Phase of the World Cup,” he said.
For its part, SM Mall of Asia Arena management, led by the Chairman of the Executive Board of SM Prime, Mr Hans Sy, and venue General Manager Arnel Gonzales, assured the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Local Organizing Committee that they would leave no stone unturned and extend all cooperation and assistance to ensure that the final phase of the event would even be more successful.