Will the NBA hold another preseason game in PH soon?

MANILA, Philippines – If the NBA ever holds another preseason game in the Philippines, it will most likely take not happen anytime soon.

NBA Philippines country manager Carlo Singson made the statement during the official announcement of the league’s new Manila-based office at the NBA Cafe in SM Aura on Tuesday, April 19.

“We continue to evaluate the opportunity to bring another game to the Philippines,” said Singson, who’s been working with the NBA since 1998. “Certainly our fans demand it, so we’re working with our partners now to look into that possibility.

“But right now I really can’t commit to bringing a game anytime soon.”

The last and only time the NBA held a preseason contest in the Philippines was during the 2013 NBA Global Games which saw the Houston Rockets defeat the Indiana Pacers, 116-96. 

The event was highlighted by the presence of many fan favorites like Dwight Howard, Paul George, James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Chandler Parsons, Larry Bird, among others.

Singson, who mentioned the Philippines is in the top 5 countries in terms of NBA revenue, was positive nonetheless, but suggested that some patience will be required before an event of such magnitude takes place again.

“It’s not a yes, it’s not a no, but it’s a somewhere down the line, perhaps. Not in the near future, though.”

Players want to come here

The NBA’s Manila-based office will be located in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and will be the league’s first in Southeast Asia. The NBA has taken note of its popularity in the Philippines, and opened its 13th international office here to give even more focus on programs like the Jr NBA/WNBA, NBA Cares, and NBA 3X.

The Philippines has seen many blockbuster NBA stars visit over the past few years. Just in 2015, names such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, Paul George, Alec Burks, Ricky Rubio, Khris Middleton, and more made appearances – a trend that’s likely to continue.

“That is always something our partners talk to us constantly about. That’s something our fans talk to us constantly about. And really, it’s not just the NBA, as you know, that brings players to market,” Singson said.

“Even working with our partners like Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour, we saw some superstars visit us last year. So we continue to work with them. Hopefully some of those guys come back to the Philippines. We will be continuing to bring players to our events, legend to our events as well,” he added.

What would bring them back?

“It helps a lot that these players like visiting the Philippines, far as it may be from the United States. Most of them talk about the adoration they get from fans in the country, and Singson has heard raving reviews from the NBA guys,” Singson explained.

He added: “Every time our players come from the Philippines, they talk so highly about the fan base here. They are the first to ask me, ‘Is there an office here?’ Now I’m glad I can tell them, ‘Yes, there is an office here.’

“They are the first to raise their hands when they say, ‘Who wants to go to the Philippines?’ It’s really an exciting [time] to be an NBA fan here in the Philippines.”

Singson also said that the NBA has many initiatives planned for the upcoming years with the opening of the Manila-based office, but declined to elaborate. – Rappler.com