#PUSO2019 trends as PH prepares for FIBA final pitch

MANILA, Philippines — Momentum is building up for the Philippines as the final bid presentation for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup is less than 24 hours away.

(LIVE: 2019 FIBA World Cup Final Pitch)

With a social media engagement campaign under the hashtag #PUSO2019, Filipinos have begun making their voices heard on Twitter, telling world basketball federation FIBA why they think the Philippines should win the bid. (READ: PH and its 2019 FIBA World Cup bid)

The hashtag trended in the Philippines starting Thursday afternoon, August 6, and spent time as the top trending topic.

Some netizens also showed off their “dunkfies.”

The “dunkfie” is part of the #PUSO2019 campaign where fans can post selfies with their phones placed on a makeshift toy ring instead of a selfie stick.

(READ: Alapag on PH’s FIBA bid: ‘We’ve proven giants can be taken down’)

Included in #PUSO2019 is what they’re calling a "dunkfie." Here’s what it looks like w/ @JAlapag3 @patriciahizon pic.twitter.com/Ctzv1u6GdF

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) August 3, 2015

A video callout called “Para sa Pinas” similar to the Ice Bucket Challenge was also launched earlier this week, encouraging fans to air their support for the Philippine bid on video and calling out friends to keep the chain going.

Here is former national team captain Jimmy Alapag’s “Para sa Pinas” video.

.@JAlapag3 doing his own "Shot for the Philippines" video. He called out Jayson and RDO #PUSO2019 pic.twitter.com/rT9jYAHhxB

— Jane Bracher (@janebracher) August 3, 2015

The bidding for the 2019 World Cup hosting is down to the Philippines and China. 

The Philippines will have its pitch anchored on the country’s deep-rooted love affair with basketball. While China is banking on its experience hosting large-scale sporting events such as the 2008 Summer Olympics. 

The program starts at 3 pm Friday, August 7, and will see the two nations present their case to the FIBA Central Board for 20 minutes each. There will be a closed door question and answer session with each country followed by the Board’s deliberation and decision.

Check out more tweets from #PUSO2019 below.

#PUSO2019

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— Rappler.com