THE country’s co-hosting of the 2023 FIBA World Cup is bringing in certainly the biggest collection of basketball stars to come over here.
Although there won’t be a Lebron, Giannis, or Jokic around, the quadrennial showcase that is making a return here after a gap of 45 years is not lacking in star power as far as players seeing action are concerned.
Karl-Anthony Towns of the Dominican Republic, Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic, Jonas Valancuinas of Lithuania, Nikola Vucevic of Montenegro, Simone Fontecchio of Italy, Gilas Pilipinas’ very own Jordan Clarkson, and the underrated USA Team, whose biggest stars include coaches Steve Kerr and Eric Spoelstra, are among the top attractions coming over to Manila for the group phase of the Aug. 25 to Sept. 10 meet.
READ: World Cup-bound Gilas the best ever assembled
There are of course the other stars in Luka Doncic of Slovenia, Rudy Gobert, Nicolas Batum and Evan Fournier of France, Canada’s RJ Barrett, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the controversial Dillon Brooks, the two young Josh – Giddey and Green – of Australia, Dennis Schroder of Germany, and Finland’s Lauri Markkanen, who will play in the group phase in either Okinawa in Japan or Jakarta in Indonesia, but are expected to take their act to this basketball-crazy nation once the knockout rounds begin.
But prior to the coming 19th edition of the World Cup, the Philippines, whose passion for basketball knows no bounds, had been host too, to several events featuring some of the biggest names in international basketball.
Below are just some of the memorable ones Spin.ph was able to gather.
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The 2011 Smart Ultimate All-Star Weekend
The NBA lockout season of 2011 proved to be a blessing in disguise for hoops-loving Filipinos. Smart Communications and MVP Sports Foundation came up with the idea of holding two exhibition games in the country featuring NBA players, who were barred from having access to team facilities, trainers, or staff back then owing to the lockout.
In coordination with East-West Private LLC, a US-based events organizing company, Smart tapped a PBA All-Star selection coached by Chot Reyes and the Smart Gilas Pilipinas team of Rajko Toroman to play two games against a group of NBA stars that include the late great Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Chris Paul, Derrick Rose, JaVale McGee, Derek Fischer, Tyreke Evans, and Derrick Williams.
The games were held at the jampacked Big Dome, fresh from being rebranded as Smart Araneta Coliseum following its tie-up with the telecommunication franchise, from July 23-24.
Led by James Yap, Mark Caguioa, Arwind Santos, Jayson Castro, and LA Tenorio, the PBA selection lost to the Smart All-Stars with Bryant acting as playing coach, 131-105. The following day, the NBA players got competition from Smart Gilas team led by Marcus Douthit and JVee Casio, but still prevailed, 98-89.
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2013 NBA pre-season game between Indiana and Houston
In a historic moment for Philippine basketball, the NBA held its first ever pre-season game here featuring the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers at the Mall of Asia Arena on October 10. It featured two of the greatest NBA players of all time in Hall of Famers Larry Bird (president of the Pacers franchise) and Kevin McHale (coach of the Rockets).
The Pacers include Paul George, David West, Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert, George Hill, slam dunk champion Gerald Green, and Lance Stephenson, with Frank Vogel as coach.
The Rockets meanwhile, were bannered by James Harden, Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons, Jeremy Lin, Omri Casspi, Patrick Beverly, and yes, Terrence Jones, who would become TNT import six years later in the PBA Commissioner’s Cup.
Harden had 21 points to lead Houston to a 116-96 win.
For good measure, former stars of both teams like Clyde Drexler, Robert Horry and Marcus Camby for Houston, and Jalen Rose for Indiana came over to watch the pre-season game together with the late NBA commissioner Davin Stern.
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2014 The Last Home Stand
A year after the inaugural Manila NBA pre-season game, another batch of stars came over for The Last Home Stand at the Smart Araneta Coliseum set July 22-23 to play two exhibition matches against Gilas Pilipinas as it prepares for its first FIBA World Cup appearance in more than three decades.
James Harden was back in the country to lead the selection along with Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard, Kyle Lowry, DeMar DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, Tyson Chandler, and Matt Barnes, who took the place of Blake Griffin and George at the last minute.
Unfortunately, what was supposed to be heaven turned out to be hell for basketball fans.
Event organizer East-West Private LLC apparently, failed to meet the deadline set by the NBA to secure permission for the two-day event to push through, so much so the players were threatened with sanctions by the league should they play in both games.
Just after the players were called up during the game introduction, Gilas coach Chot Reyes took to the microphone and told the crowd of about 10,000, that no game will be played. Instead, the players will participate in a live open practice session.
When reality finally sets in, fans began jeering from the stands for being shortchanged. PLDT chairman Manny V. Pangilinan later held a hastily-called press conference, made his sincere apology, and promised that all ticket holders will be refunded.
The event no longer pushed through as all pertaining activities and the remaining game were totally cancelled.
4. 2016 Manila Olympic Qualifier
San Antonio Spurs superstar Tony Parker of France led an international cast which competed for the lone berth at stake in the Manila qualifier of the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Olympics.
Along with Parker were with his Les Bleus teammates in Nicolas Batum, Boris Diaw, and Nando De Colo as they beat Canada for a ticket to the Olympics.
The Canadians brought along Corey Joseph, Tristan Thompson, and Anthony Bennett.
France beat the Philippines during the group phase, 93-84, in front of a capacity crowd at the Mall of Asia Arena that included then newly-elected president Rodrigo Duterte.
Andray Blatche served as Gilas’ naturalized player.
5. 2012 PLDT All-Star Basketball Challenge
NBA All-time great Scottie Pippen came over to the country more than a decade ago to lead former NBA players in a one-game exhibition against PBA Legends at the then newly-opened Mall of Asia Arena for the PLDT All-Star Basketball Challenge.
Pippen was with former Chicago Bulls teammates Dennis Rodman and Horace Grant, along with Jason Williams, Mitch Richmond, and the late Cliff Robinson. Another NBA great Oscar Robertson acted as coach.
The PBA Legends led by playing-coach Jerry Codinera, Jojo Lastimosa, and Kenneth Duremdes lost to their NBA counterparts, 112-93.
But what made the event truly memorable was Rodman finally acknowledging the presence of his late Angeles City-based father Philander in the stands. Father and son had not been in speaking terms since the elder Rodman left his family while Dennis was only three years old. The two also had a brief chat following the game.
6. 2010 NBA-Asia Challenge
Chris Webber, Glen Rice, Gary Payton, and Mitch Richmond bannered the NBA side which played in the 2010 Asia Challenge against a select group of former and active PBA players.
The August 27 game at the Araneta Coliseum was best remembered for the 54-point explosion of Allan Caidic built around 14 triples in a 177-167 win by the Red Team of coach Tim Cone over the White Team of Siot Tanquingcen.
Rice, one of the most prolific outside shooters in NBA history, played alongside Caidic, and was by the shooting clinic displayed by the Triggerman, who he referred to as ‘Trigger’ and ‘My Man.’
7. 1979 NBA champion Washington Bullets visit Manila
Fresh from their NBA title conquest, the Bullets (now Washington Wizards) led by the legendary pair of Elvis Hayes and Wes Unseld, visited the country and played against a PBA All-Stars selection reinforced by five imports in Gilbey’s Gins Larry McNeil and Dean Tolson, Cyrus Mann of Crispa, U-Tex’s Glenn McDonald, and Royal’s Larry Pounds at the Araneta Coliseum.
Handled by Dick Motta, the Bullets won, 133-123. They also had in their lineup Dave Corzine and future Toyota import Kevin Porter.
Ramon Fernandez and Atoy Co led the PBA All-Stars, who were limited to have only one player per team, with the late grand slam coach Virgilio ‘Baby’ Dalupan calling the shots.
8. 2006 ‘Bad Boy’ Tour
Six years prior to smoking the peace pipe with his dad in Manila, Dennis Rodman bannered an NBA contingent that was part of the ‘Bad Boy Tour’ and engaged two local selections in exhibition matches, including the Philippine men’s team.
Rodman was with fellow NBA big man Darryl Dawkins, guard Calvin Murphy, top gunner Alex English and was coached by Sidney Moncrief.
The NBA selection initially beat the SMC All-Stars led by former PBA MVPs Allan Caidic and Ato Agustin, 124-94, at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Complex, but lost to the Dondon Hontiveros-led national team, 110-102, at the Araneta Coliseum
9. 2009 NBA-Asia Challenge
Dominique Wilkins headlined the ‘NBA Generations’ that suited up in the NBA-Asia Challenge at the Araneta Coliseum.
Aside from the power-playing Atlanta Hawks great, the team also featured Robert Horry, Vlade Divac, and Tim Hardaway, with six-time NBA champion and MVP Kareem Abdul-Jabbar acting as assistant coach.
Wilkins and Co. defeated the hybrid PBA team of coach Yeng Guiao, 109-86, which was composed of Allan Caidic, Alvin Patrimonion, Kenneth Duremdes, Benjie Paras, Asi Taulava, Marc Pingris, Arwind Santos, among others.
10. 1984 NBA Legends vs Northern Consolidated
Prior to becoming the legendary coach, Phil Jackson was a Manila visitor in 1984 as part of former NBA players who had a friendly with the Northern Consolidated national men’s team.
Jackson was with the late Pete Maravich, Rick Barry, Earl Monroe, Connie Hawkins, Cazzie Russell, among others, who beat the national squad, 84-77.
NCC had Hector Calma, Elmer Reyes, Yves Dignadice and naturalized players Jeff Moore, Dennis Still, and Chip Engelland, who is the shooting coach of the USA Team seeing action in the 2023 World Cup.
11. 1978 FIBA World Cup
Back when cable TV was still a pipe dream, international basketball stars with the exception of those in the NBA, were not yet familiar to Filipino fans.
But the Philippines’ first ever hosting of the World Cup in 1978 saw some of the world’s best players bring their act here and introduced themselves to a country considered one of the most passionate in terms of basketball.
Among them were Brazil’s Oscar Schmidt, the top scorer in both the history of the World Cup and the Olympics, and tournament MVP Drazen Dalipagic of eventual champion Yugoslavia, who was later enshrined into both the FIBA and Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
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