A thrilled basketball-mad nation witnessed a first last night.
So Filipinos couldn’t help but look forward to the National Basketball Association returning for another preseason game, or possibly, a regular match.
Although commissioner David Stern didn’t exactly shoot down the idea, he admitted that economics will play a big part for the NBA to stage a repeat of the blockbuster battle between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City last night.
“It’s a little bit more problematic for regular season game because of the high cost,” Stern told the Inquirer in a roundtable discussion with selected media. “But we’re always studying it. And I hope we’ll be returning at some point in the not so distant future, whether it’s a friendly or a regular season game.”
Stern said, too, that the country’s cage development is perfectly on track.
“No one has to give advice to the Philippines. It’s an intense basketball country,” said Stern.
“Obviously there’s a lot of basketball being played here. My guess is that one player or another will be scouted and be brought to the colleges, see how they do and move up.”
The NBA also made its presence felt in the country in 1979 when the then Washington Bullets played an exhibition game against the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) All-Stars.
“I think the Philippines deserves it,” Stern said of last night’s game.