There's no other country in Asia that has a much richer history in basketball than the Philippines. This country located in the Southeast area of Asia has had its fair share of international basketball history. Philippine teams have been competing internationally ever since the early years of basketball. With the Filipino greats like Larry Mumar and the 'Big Difference' Caloy Loyzaga, the country has gained international recognition and has taken several medals and championships along the way.
Ever since the Americans introduced the sport to Filipinos, through their YMCA programs, the country never failed to waver for their love for basketball. Until today, it can be evidently seen how Filipinos crave for basketball and embrace it. Having the 2nd oldest basketball professional league in the world, next to the NBA, the Philippine Basketball Association is a league that the country takes pride on. This local professional league has served well and has produced such incredible talents throughout the years, forming legends that became household names of today.
How much does the Filipino people love basketball? Well, you can see it during game days especially during college games. The Araneta Coliseum, the once largest domed structure in Asia, gets sold out during game days. By the way, this was also the place where Ali and Frazier's 'Thrilla in Manila' took place. Imagine the 'Big Dome' crowded with almost 20,000 people, that's how crazy this country is of basketball. Another proof of how crazed Filipinos are of basketball is the youth. Most of the kids in the Philippines dream to make it big in the professional league, which is the PBA, or at least even play at college level.
Majority of the kids in the Philippines watch basketball in television more than any other sport. There was once a point in time where one can see almost every street with a basketball court. Roads are sometimes even closed just to give way to the people playing basketball in the streets. One more crazed evidence is seen on how Filipinos welcome NBA players in the country. When an NBA player comes to the country, the area just goes berserk and die hard fans flock through the malls or the coliseums that the player goes to. The NBA players are like rock stars in the Philippines. You can't blame the people, it's rare that they see their idols in person. That's how basketball is embraced in the country.
NBA games are also very admired by the people. Most people know the players and one can't find it surprising that so many people know about the players and the game itself. That's how Filipinos love basketball so much. The NBA games, especially the playoffs and the Finals series shown on TV are one of the most talked about topics of discussion in a typical group of Filipinos.
So why basketball? Ask that to almost any Filipino and he or she will always have an answer for you. This sport is just so embraced in the country that soccer almost seems to look like virtually unseen or unfelt. That's what makes the Philippines unique, the country is such a basketball-crazed country and they won't be ashamed of that. What's to be ashamed of, the country holds almost all the basketball golds in the Southeast Asian Games, the country also has the PBA, the second oldest professional basketball league, and Filipinos know a good basketball game when they see one.
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