FIBA 3x3 Olympic qualifier postponed due to coronavirus outbreak

(CNN Philippines, March 4) — FIBA has announced Wednesday that several of its upcoming events have been postponed due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

This includes the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualification Tournament, which was scheduled to be held in Bengaluru, India, from March 18 to 22.

The Philippines is grouped in Pool C together with Slovenia, France, Qatar and Dominican Republic. Only the top two countries in the group stages will advance to the quarterfinals, with the top three nations earning a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

READ: Perez, Pasaol headline PH 3x3 team for Tokyo 2020 Olympic qualifier

FIBA, the world governing body for basketball, said the FIBA 3x3 Olympic Qualification Tournament should take place before the FIBA 3x3 Universality Olympic Qualifier Tournament which is slated to happen in Budapest, Hungary from April 24 to 26.

The coronavirus has infected more than 92,800 people and killed at least 3,200 since it was first identified in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year.