Filipino fans of the National Basketball Association (NBA) would be glad to know that there will now be a first-ever official online site specifically designed for NBA enthusiasts in the country. The new online destination called NBA.com Philippines will go live during the NBA Playoffs and will feature local content from Filipino journalists and bloggers, extensive video highlights, integrated social media elements, and online community features.
The website is made possible through the partnership of NBA with X-Play Online Games Inc., a subsidiary of Philippine online IP e-Game Ventures Inc. (PSE:EG) and Philstar.com, the online arm of the Philippine Star Group.
According to Carlo Singson, Country Manager-Philippines, NBA Asia, the Philippines is in the top three (next to the US and China) in the world to drive traffic to the NBA website and Facebook page. "Filipino fans are some of the most passionate fans in the world," he attested. "The NBA has a long history in the Philippines and we are always looking to deliver bigger and better experiences to our Filipino NBA fans."
Singson described that the new website will provide a good blend of local commentary, global content, and event information. Basketball aficionados can expect to find NBA.com Philippines as their one-stop shop for all things NBA. The site will feature commentary from longtime Philippine Star columnist Quinito Henson (also known as 'The Dean') and Rick Olivares, one of the country's most popular sports bloggers. In addition, information on NBA events in the Philippines will be highlighted on the site.
"By launching a localized NBA.com website, we aim to enrich the experience for NBA fans in the Philippines, as well as expand the overall fan base," said Enrique Y. Gonzalez, CEO of IP Ventures Inc. who affirmed that the Philippines has a growing internet user population of close to 30 million people. "NBA forms the core of this offering supported by Philippine Star's reach and strong editorial coverage, and E-Games community and retail base of close to 8,000 internet cafes." Singson further acknowledged that IP e-Games' expertise and reputation in the market make them them the perfect partner.
Kevin Belmonte, President and CEO of Philstar.com, shared, "It's a great honor to be a part of this endeavor, knowing that we will be helping Filipino fans get their regular dose of NBA content - this time through NBA.com Philippines." He added that being a basketball-crazy nation and one of the major markets for the NBA in the world, "The Philippines deserves to have its localized NBA website - a place on the Web that Filipino NBA fans can call their home."
With the NBA Playoffs about to tip off, video features will bring fans closer to the action via game highlights, top plays from around the league, and interviews with players and coaches. Fans will furthermore get a chance to participate in polls, follow the @NBA_Philippines Twitter feed, and connect with the NBA Philippines Facebook fan page. Other features found in the site include player pages, statistics, photo galleries, game recaps, and real-time scores.
During the event the other night where the partnership was announced, excitement reigned over avid basketball fans when Luc Longley (whoa! such a tall guy!!!) came up on stage to answer a few questions and share his experiences as a longtime player. He even gamely helped award some of the raffle prizes to several winners. Later, Luc patiently signed memorabilia and posed for photos with event guests.
With the launch of another localized website, the NBA now features 13 international web destinations. In case you don't know, the NBA was the first US sports league to offer something like this for their followers with the first NBA.com/Japan being launched in 1999. NBA's marketing partners in the Philippines, including Adidas, Coors Light, Gatorade, and KFC will be supporting the website and the site's launch activities.
* Photos borrowed from Orange Magazine TV's NBA Website Launch album on Facebook
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