Phl hosts first NBA game
THOUSANDS SHOW UP DESPITE HIGH TICKET PRICES
It was the first NBA preseason game on Philippine soil and definitely not the last.
This was the assurance made by no less than NBA commissioner David Stern moments before the tip-off of the historic Houston-Indiana showdown that saw the Rockets riding on a vicious opening assault to blast the Pacers, before thousands of screaming fans last night at the sprawling Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
"We are delighted to be here. Thank you for your hospitality and we are looking forward to be back here," said the 71-year-old Stern in a brief opening statement that delighted the very appreciative crowd.
"The fans here in the Philippines are great and the best I've ever seen," added Stern, who will be replaced by Adam Silver, his deputy for 22 years, when he steps down from his post next year.
The landmark event generated intense interest in this basketball-crazy nation and it was reflective on the live gate attendance as all seats were filled up despite the excessively high ticket prices costing between P33,000 to P51,000.
And in a country that considers basketball a religion, the NBA Global Games series that hit Southeast Asia for the first time was truly a resounding success as it further galvanized the Philippines' status as one of the biggest markets in the Asian region.
The match also drew positive reviews from some fans who take pride for being part of a historic moment in Philippine sports.
" This is kinda like watching video game characters come to life to duke it out on Philippine soil," tweeted @iManonica on Philstar.com's live blog on NBA Global Games Philippines.
" Rockets or Pacers. Whichever. Hehe just love watching that kind of a ball game," blurted out @JohMCruz.
Indeed, the Filipinos emerged as the biggest winner for finally earning the reward of their unbridled passion and long love affair with basketball and the NBA.