Filipino fans relish NBA game here; Lin a fan favorite

NBA stars’ fans came from as far as Hong Kong and Davao to watch the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers play in their preseason game at the Mall of Asia Arena on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013. Both teams got more than warm reception from their fans on a rainy night. The Rockets’ head coach, Kevin McHale, best summed up NBA’s first ever NBA Global Game in the Philippines: “It’s been a good experience. It was a fun game tonight.” The Rockets won, 116-96. Videos and photos by Celest R. Flores and Noy Morcoso lll

MANILA, Philippines—It was no home game for both squads, but Indiana and Houston got a more than warm reception from the Filipino basketball fans on a rainy night in Manila.

Though the Mall of Asia Arena wasn’t filled to the brim on Thursday with a lot of vacant seats in the lower box section, the 12,885 fans who attended relished the first-ever NBA Global Game here.

“It’s been a good experience. It was a fun game tonight. I know a lot of guys did some fun things here. It was a nice trip. It was a good atmosphere,” said Rockets’ head coach Kevin McHale.

Houston guard Jeremy Lin, the new face of Asiain the league, drew the loudest cheers every time he took a free throw, launched a shot or even when he just touched the ball.

Star center Dwight Howard, who is coming off a rocky stint with Los Angeles Lakers, meanwhile, got a few boos from the crowd.

Three-time visitor James Harden, who led the Rockets to a 116-96 victory over the Pacers, also got fans cheering along with Indiana’s Paul George and Danny Granger.

A good part of that crowd, which clapped back and forth for both teams, rocked either Houston or Pacers gear or hardwood classic jerseys of NBA legends.

Fans at the Mall of Asia Arena for the first ever NBA pre-season game here enjoy the performance from the Indiana Pacemates during a timeout. Houston won 116-96 over Indiana. PHOTO BY CELEST FLORES/INQUIRER.net

But all of them got free -shirts, just like in an NBA playoff game back in the US, but this time it had “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” emblazoned on them.

And the appreciative crowd also enjoyed the side events like the slingshot T-shirt giveaway, performances of the team mascots and the cheerleader performances every lull.

At the end of the game, the players hugged and exchanged pleasantries at the midcourt. Then Lin, Howard, Harden, among others, threw more free stuff at the crowd.

Aside from players, coaches and executives in the UAAP, NCAA and PBA and show-biz personalities like KC Concepcion, also in attendance was the country’s Vice President Jejomar “Jojo” Binay.

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