Basketball is Still Alive and Well in the Philippines

ALTHOUGH the NBA Finals is already over, basketball still goes on back in my former country Philippines.

Recently, the country successfully staged the FIBA 3x3 World Cup which is a prelude to the Basketball World Cup which the Philippines is hosting in 2023 with two other countries in Japan and Indonesia.

Of course, the PBA is still ongoing with the Commissioner's Cup as of the moment.


On the amateur side, the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League just launched its newest conference with 26 teams. League founder Manny Pacquiao was able to attract more teams in the Visayas and Mindanao and even actor Gerald Anderson has found a home in the league.

The PBA D League just began its newest conference but as I posted previously, there seems to be a lack of interest.

In the collegiate scene, the Filoil Flying V Pre-Season tournament is enjoying more television exposure thanks to ESPN5 and the UAAP and NCAA teams are getting the much-needed exposure before their respective leagues begin later this year.

Over here in the US, sports fans have other choices outside of the NBA. The FIFA World Cup begins this week while there is still MLB baseball. Of course, NBA free agent signings and the draft will still dominate the headlines.

With all these things happening to Philippine basketball, it makes me yearn for the old days when I was covering all those leagues at the same time. But as I have said before, my mother knows what is best for me by staying in the US for good.

Hopefully, Manny V. Pangilinan can give me a passport and plane ticket so I can come back and cover the 2023 FIBA World Cup in the Philippines.
Location: El Sobrante, CA, USA

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