President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. expressed his excitement to "reenact" his late father's ceremonial jumpball toss when the Philippines hosted the 1978 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Basketball World Cup (FBWC), as he welcomed the country's hosting of the much-awaited sporting event in August.

FROM ONE MARCOS TO ANOTHER -- President Marcos is excited to reenact his late namesake father's ball toss for the Philippines' hosting of the FIBA World Cup in August 2023. The Philippines first hosted the said sporting event during the time of the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. in 1978. (Malacañang, SBP photos)

Marcos remembered this during the courtesy call of the members of the FIBA Central Board and delegates from the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) in Malacañang on April 28.

In his remarks, the President recalled how his late father former president Ferdinand Marcos tossed the ceremonial jumpball for the FIBA event 45 years ago, the first time it happened in the Philippines.

"I was there when my father first tossed the ball, and I'm quite pleased to be able to --- I didn't realize that that was the first time that it happened here in the Philippines," said Marcos, who was 20 years old then.

"And I'm happy that I will be there for the time that it will --- the FIBA events will return --- World Cup now, will return to the Philippines. So it would be an honor for me to reenact, perhaps, reenact what my father did in 1978," he added.

The President said his administration has always considered sports as an essential part of the country's social development and was very happy to support all the endeavors of FIBA's Central committee.

Given the popularity of basketball in the Philippines, Marcos hoped that the Philippines' hosting of the FIBA World Cup would be a success.

On September 12, 2022, FIBA announced that the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia would host the FBWC 2023, the first time multiple Asian nations were selected to host the event.

This is the Philippines' second hosting of the FBWC since 1978.

Sa ating patuloy na pagtaguyod sa larangan ng isports, isang karangalan na maidaos muli ang @FIBAWC sa bansa.

Sinisiguro natin ang seguridad at maayos na paghahanda at iba pang koordinasyon para sa matagumpay na pagdaraos ng FBWC, katuwang ang mga miyembro ng FIBA Central Board… pic.twitter.com/8VOnSl51IF

— Bongbong Marcos (@bongbongmarcos) April 28, 2023

Meanwhile, Marcos likewise recalled his remarks during the send-off for the Philippine team competing in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games earlier this week, where he highlighted the importance of sports as it is one of the activities suitable to young people.

"When you look at sports and everything that it entails, I said this is one of the very few activities that we can think of from which there really is no downside," he said.

"It's good for our discipline. It's good for our health. It's good for our learning camaraderie, learning how to be a good sport," he added.

President Marcos also thanked FIBA and SBP Chairman Emeritus and FIBA member Manuel Pangilinan, saying the country's FIBA event would not be possible "without a great deal of hard work from all of you."

The SBP is FBWC 2023's local organizing committee.

Founded in 1932, FIBA is an association of national organizations that governs competition in basketball, with a main office in Mies, Switzerland. It has regional offices in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

FIBA oversees the establishment, updating, and amendment of the official basketball rules; establishes the specifications for basketball equipment and facilities and regulations for international and Olympic competitions; appoints international referees; regulates the cross-country transfer of players; and governs and oversees the organization of all international competitions.

To date, there are 212 National Federation members around the world: Americas (42 national federations), Africa (54 national federations), Asia (44 national federations), Europe (50 national federations), and Oceania (22 national federations).

The Central Board is FIBA's top-level executive branch, which supervises the practice of basketball worldwide. It comprises a President, FIBA Secretary General, Treasurer, and the Presidents of each Zone, plus three members elected by the Congress according to a continent-based quota system.