The International Basketball Federation or FIBA said it will use a "bubble-concept" format in the next two windows of all its continental cup basketball qualifiers across the world in an effort to bring back its competitions during the novel coronavirus pandemic.
This will include the 2021 Asia Cup Qualifiers, where the Gilas Pilipinas national men's team is part of.
This style of competition will be used for its November and February windows.
The recommendations were forwarded by FIBA's Medical Commission and the Competitions' Commission for the resumption of tournaments.
The advisory stated that, “all the games of both windows should be conducted in ‘bubbles,’ instead of home and away games.”
This is with the agreement of the host public health authorities and in compliance with FIBA health protocols.
The protocols include PCR testing and controlled entry into a secure environment in the competition city.
It was also recommended that each ‘bubble’ will consist of 4 to 8 teams in one or two qualification groups.
Gilas Pilipinas is in Group A, together with rivals South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia.
The nationals won over Indonesia, 100-70, last February 23 in its only game of the Asia Cup Qualifiers so far.
Gilas was supposed to clash with Thailand last February 18. But action was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
