Inside record-breaking Philippine Arena: key difference from Europe / News - Basketnews.com

While the experience at the Philippine Arena was truly unique, European fans still stand out even among the passionate crowds found in basketball-crazy countries like the Philippines.

Credit: FIBA Credit FIBA

I won't hide it. I've been to places in my basketball journalist career. But the Philippine Arena's greatness, the stands' depth, and the feeling of being in a unique basketball amphitheater were simply unparalleled.

Player of the Game EFF 20 Andres Rafael Feliz Points 12 Accuracy 5-11 Rebounds 6 Assists 8

The basketball-crazy Filipino nation truly deserved this FIBA World Cup attendance record, with 38,115 fans showing up for the Philippines vs. Dominican Republic match.

What sets Filipino basketball culture apart from European fans? Did the atmosphere at the Philippine Arena match up to the impressive attendance record?

I'll share my impressions in this BasketNews blog.

The FIBA World Cup opening night at the Philippine Arena was already surrounded by myths well before the actual game.

Even local journalists in the Manila WhatsApp chat asked official FIBA representatives whether there would be any disruptions due to the president's visit to the Philippines vs. Dominican Republic game. They even had concerns about a possible arena lockdown or internet shutdown.

Locals were eagerly anticipating the record. The Philippine Arena, which can accompany 55,000 people, couldn't be filled due to organizational reasons, but until the last minute, it was expected that the hottest basketball spot in the world would gather up to 46,000 spectators.

A FIBA volunteer reassured us on our way to the Philippine Arena that 43,000 tickets were already sold, reading the media reports that the tickets were selling well.

By the way, for the first time in my career, the media bus was escorted by local police. Traffic and logistics were the main reasons why the anticipated final phase of the FIBA World Cup had to be moved from the Philippine Arena to the Mall of Asia.

"FIBA Cares," joked my colleague journalist from Greece after seeing two police motorbikes and receiving a food package from a FIBA volunteer.

Dominican Republic / Schedule

Dominican Republic Philippines87-81 Italy Dominican Republic82-87 Angola Dominican RepublicTue08:00

Smoothly arriving at the remote Philippine Arena, its entrances were truly captivating. Palm trees and a massive park surrounded the world's largest multipurpose indoor arena.

A couple of hours before the first game between Angola and Italy, people crowded around the palace-like structure that more resembled a football stadium than a basketball arena.

"Incredible," said Harris Stavrou from Sport24 upon seeing the Philippine Arena. And he's seen a lot – he witnessed Giannis Antetokounmpo's triumph in the NBA championship locker room, so impressing him shouldn't be easy.

Helicopters, police forces, and other local authorities surrounded the gym while volunteers and arena staff tried to manage the traffic. It wasn't easy. The media bus circled the arena until finally being allowed to enter through the media entrance.

I was surprised by how modern and beautiful (kudos to FIBA for the color choice inside the arena) it was inside. After reading reports that the final World Cup stage at the Philippine Arena wouldn't happen, I thought it would be another example of struggling to host high-level and quality events in impressive yet outdated venues.

I was wrong. The acoustics, visuals, and overall feeling were simply fantastic—an unmatched experience.

And the depth of this structure! At specific points during the game, I struggled to see the spectators seated at the farthest rows of the roof tribune. It's an astonishing venue.

Credit FIBA

You might not believe it, but the first most stuck-in-my-mind thing was the Kiss Cam. The Kiss Cam experience there was the liveliest I've ever experienced in a basketball gym.

Some suggested that perhaps the crowd was so enthusiastic because Filipinos are pretty shy, and kissing in public is quite a big deal.

When a few couples hesitated to kiss, the Kiss Cam guy added some pressure by keeping the camera on them or returning to them after a few more couples had their turn. I haven't heard anybody laughing so loud in a basketball game.

"If they're so loud about it, what will happen in the Philippines game?" I curiously asked my Greek journalist colleague.

Oh, and for the record, the excited Filipinos recorded an attendance of 21,214 in a game between Italy and Angola.

As I waited for the basketball players to step onto the Philippines Arena court, I saw Dominican Republic's figure, Eloy Vargas, poking his nose out of the tunnel to look around the basketball arena. He should have been impressed.

Credit FIBA

Honestly, I believe the players were influenced by the energy of this massive crowd, which led to some crazy plays from Space Jam.

In my conversations with a couple of Italian basketball players, it was apparent that in such an extravagant environment, their hands were shaking during the first two quarters (perhaps this could explain a poor 3-point shooting percentage by all four teams and 19 turnovers by Filipinos).

It seemed as if players occasionally made decisions driven by their emotional surroundings and reincarnated into the NBA All-Stars.

The local fans reminded me of NBA fans. They chanted, shouted, and supported their team with a few simple chants that often resembled the rhythm of the NBA environment.

Bringing together such a massive crowd is no small feat. I did notice a small group of ultra-like supporters in one corner, but their chants were difficult to hear in such a vast venue.

As impressive as 38,115 attendees are, my Greek colleague Harris Stavrou raised an interesting point: Imagine if those 38,115 fans were Panathinaikos or Olympiacos supporters. The atmosphere would have been electric.

"The arena's roof would lift from their energy," I responded.

I did miss that feeling.

I've been to some of the hottest crowds in Europe. Perhaps those arenas had two times or 2.5 times fewer fans, but the constant support for the team, the songs, the ability to ride the emotional wave in response to on-court situations and game dynamics, the intensity almost throughout the entire 40 minutes – these differences still set European basketball fans apart from Asians – or, at least, Filipinos.

However, being a part of this festive atmosphere was truly enjoyable. What struck me was the absence of negative tension or aggression from the crowd.

In Europe, some referee decisions would have been met with quite a harsh response. Here, the fans were peaceful, celebrating basketball in a relaxed, family-friendly manner.

For instance, they gave a round of applause to NBA star Karl-Anthony Towns during the Dominican Republic warm-up. Witnessing opponents receiving applause in visiting gyms across Europe is a rarity.

And there's nothing negative about that. Such contrasting basketball cultures and experiences only make the basketball world more fascinating.

Credit FIBA

There's one more difference that caught my attention.

You don't often see fans leaving the stands with only 90 seconds left to play and their team trailing by just 5 points. It shocked me to witness groups of people heading for the exits when it was still a two-possession game.

This is a historical moment – stand by your team, show your gratitude for the fight they've put up, and relish in this rare celebration. You never know how many more games your national team has in this competition.

This could easily be attributed to traffic issues and locals needing to work early on Saturday. Nonetheless, it's an adventure that might occur only once in a lifetime.

Embrace the moment, and don't take it for granted.

Oh, and regarding all those rumors about lockdowns, internet connection shutdowns, and the like...

I noticed nothing extraordinary except a 15-minute blockage of the corridor between the media working room and the media tribune due to the president's arrival.

It seemed like he had a team of at least 100 eyes, ensuring everything was running smoothly and safely.

Credit FIBA

Being a part of this fun atmosphere was a delightful experience.

On my way to the Philippine Arena, I talked with a FIBA volunteer. Her pride in the Philippines hosting this event was evident in her eyes. At one point, I thought she might burst into tears of joy.

I can confidently say that this country, which is undoubtedly crazy about basketball, truly deserved this honor to host the FIBA World Cup 2023.

The local people's warmth, hospitality, and smiles make this World Cup experience exceptional at every turn.

This was my initial exposure to the Philippines' basketball culture, and it was truly one-of-a-kind.

Congratulations, Filipinos! Let the basketball celebration continue!

BasketNews vlog about the Philippine Arena experience:

P.S. Three spontaneous reflections on the Philippines team:

Filipinos' head coach, Chot Reyes, has become the most stylish coach in the competition. Initially, we thought his striped suit was a national signature, but he continues surprising basketball fans with his game-day outfits.

Anticipating the loudest cheers for Jordan Clarkson and Kai Sotto during the team presentations, I was taken aback when the player named Dwight Ramos received the most thunderous applause.

The 24-year-old guard plays in the Japanese basketball league, boasting an average of 9.5 points per game for the Levanga Hokkaido. He's someone I hadn't come across previously.

Filipino big man June Mar Fajardo strongly resembles Steven Adams. What a powerful center!

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