Lalahok ang Pilipinas sa inilunsad na kauna-unahang International Basketball Federation (FIBA) International Esports competition para sa mga miyembro nilang national teams.
Pinananabikan ng FIBA at ng mga national member federations nito ang pagkahanay nila sa Esports movement sa pamamagitan ng kanilang pilot project na tinawag nilang FIBA Esports Open 2020. Nakatakdang umpisahan ang inaugural series ng exhibition E-basketball games ngayong darating na weekend -Hunyo 19 - 21, 2020.
Maliban sa Pilipinas, ang iba pang national teams na lalahok ay ang Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, New Zealand, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland at Ukraine. Ang mga koponan ay may tig-7 players, 5 sa court at dalawang reserves habang ang mga games ay lalaruin ng walang physical contact sa NBA2K gamit ang Pro-AM mode at puwede ang full customization ng mga player avatars, uniforms maging ang arena designs.
Ang kabuuan ng FIBA E-sports Open 2020 series ay ipo-produce mula sa FIBA E-sports Studio sa Riga, Latvia.
Bawat laro ay maaaring panoorin sa pamamagitan ng live streaming sa FIBA Facebook page, Twitch at YouTube channels. "FIBA is extremely proud and excited to start iitsEsports journey with the FIBA E-sports Open 2020, a pilot project of exhibition games between national teams in collaboration with NBA2K," pahayag ni FIBA Media and Marketing Services Director General Frank Leenders.
"The esports initiative was identified by the FIBA Central Board as important and consistent with the strategic objective to enlarge the FIBA Family. In these challenging times, we feel encouraged by the enthusiasm of some of our National Federations who are already active in this space and have been our charter partners during the last few months." "NBA 2K is honored to partner with FIBA in creating the FIBA Esports Open 2020, " ayon naman kay Jason Argent, Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations.
"Through these matches, we’re excited to be able to celebrate the global appeal of basketball," dagdag nito.