Jakarta, IO – Luis Scola, the 2023 FIBA World Cup Global Ambassador, gladly greeted the Indonesian basketball fans at the fan zone at Jakarta’s Senayan Park, representing the FIBA and monitoring the basketball World Cup’s organization. Despite the fact that it was his first visit to Indonesia, he admitted to being content. “This is my first time visiting Indonesia. Even though it’s only for one day, I am having fun,” said the legendary Argentine basketball player while asking about favorite Indonesian foods.
On Sunday, September 3, in Senayan Park in Jakarta, the first 100 fans reaching the Fan Zone had the opportunity to take a photo with Scola, and 20 lucky fans were thrilled to get his autograph.
As the Global Ambassador for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, Scola came to promote the tournament and encourage interest in basketball around the world. As a legend, Scola knows what it takes to win because he has long represented Argentina in this championship. He believed that Indonesia would do well to host the 2023 FIBA World Cup for the first time. He also promotes basketball in Indonesia and believes that Indonesia has an excellent future for the sport.
“Basketball is growing rapidly in Indonesia. Not only here, I think, but also in Asia and globally. Asia has been a big part of the development of world basketball in the last 20 years. Look at China, Japan, and the Philippines; now Indonesia is also joining. This is good for basketball in general; how to spread the game globally, and I’m happy to be here,” added the former NBA Houston Rockets player.
As a global ambassador, Scola has certainly observed the strengths of the many international teams competing in this year’s International Cup, and he believes that the teams’ strengths are currently balanced. “My favorite team is France, but look what happened. Perhaps the United States or Canada can win the World Cup. We cannot know what will happen because there is only one game, and anything can happen. Only the team that gives its best on the field can win,” he expressed.
Luis Alberto Scola Balvoa (born April 30, 1980) is an Argentine former professional basketball player and current executive who currently serves as the chief executive officer for the Italian Lega Basket Serie A (LBA) team Pallacanestro Varese. A threetime All-Euroleague selection with Tau Ceramica, he signed with the Houston Rockets in 2007 and was voted to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Later on, he played for the Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors, and Brooklyn Nets.
Scola has been a regular member of the Argentina national basketball team since 1999, winning an Olympic gold team medal in 2004 and a bronze team medal in the 2008 Summer Olympics.