DIVERSITY has always been a big thing for the National Basketball Association (NBA). It has always been for cultural inclusiveness, social justice and racial equality.
That is why it has special commemorations and pays special tributes to different groups, like Black History Month, Hispanic Month, even Chinese New Year. For Black History Month, the NBA comes together to honor Martin Luther King with pre-game shirts or shoes. For Hispanic Month the teams add a little Spanish to their looks, and their game. They are called El Heat, Los Suns, Los Lakers, Los Spurs, and so on. During Chinese New Year, specially designed game jerseys and t-shirts liven up the scene.
Just this year, for the first time, the NBA is honoring not just a race, but a special people: Filipinos. It has unveiled specially designed shirts this month for the first-ever NBA Filipino Heritage Week as part of its celebration of Philippine culture with millions of Filipino fans around the world.
The shirts feature the iconic Philippine jeepney that pays homage to Filipino culture and the Pinoy passion for basketball. The silhouette incorporates other basketball and local design elements, including the sun’s rays from the Philippine flag placed above the ‘PILIPINAS’ signage, and an image of The Larry O’Brien Trophy that forms the jeep’s headlights on the front grill.
As part of NBA Filipino Heritage Week, teams with strong Filipino ties—the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat—host Filipino Heritage Nights featuring in-arena Philippine-themed activations including musical performances and giveaways. The Heat hosted a post-game press conference with head coach Erik Spoelstra for the Philippine media Tuesday evening, while the Warriors will headline singer-songwriter Martin Nievera and the LIKHA Pilipino Folk Ensemble during their Filipino Heritage Night on March 18. Miami Heat players, dance team, and mascot Burnie will showcase the limited edition shirts during pre-game warm-ups and on-court performances.
It is the first NBA Filipino Heritage Week ever. The local celebration runs from March 13 to 19 and will be marked by viewing parties of the Heat and Warrior games together with an NBA Cares event and social media activations on the NBA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts in the Philippines. NBA Legend Glen Rice is now in Manila to be part of the viewing parties and other activities. Rice was here in 2010 for the NBA Asia Challenge where he, together with other Legends Chris Webber, Gary Payton and Mitch Richmond played with D-League players and Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Legends like Allan Caidic, Benjie Paras, Ronnie Magsanoc, Vergel Meneses, Atoy Co and then current PBA players Dondon Hontiveros, Arwind Santos, Rico Maierhofer, Ronald Tubid and Asi Taulava.
This year, mainland Pinoys can get into the action by watching the three Filipino Heritage-themed games on local TV. Miami Heat vs. New Orleans Pelicans is scheduled for March 16 on Basketball TV, Heat vs. Timberwolves on March 18 will be shown on ABS-CBN, BTV and NBA Premium TV), while The Warriors vs. Bucks game on March 19 will be carried by Sports + Action and Basketball TV.
Fans can also watch Filipino Heritage Night games on NBA LEAGUE PASS. Globe Telecom subscribers are also eligible for exclusive NBA packages available in three service offerings: NBA499 for a 30-day premium access, NBA299 for 7 days, and NBA50 for a 24-hour access. Globe users must text the preferred NBA promo keyword (NBA499, NBA299, NBA50) to 8080 to begin the registration process.
As for the Filipino Heritage Week t-shirts, they come in red, blue, gray, black, and white and will be available starting today March 16 at all NBA Stores in Metro Manila and Cebu, Titan stores in the Fort, Conrad, and Titan webstore. The American Airlines Arena in Miami and the Oracle Arena in Oakland as well as team stores and NBAStore.com will also carry the Filipino-themed shirts.
In his post-game interview with Filipino media Tuesday evening, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra – a proud son of Los Baños, Laguna—marveled at how the NBA is recognizing the contribution of the Philippines to the popularity of basketball through Filipino Heritage Week. He said he was happy that the Pinoy’s love for basketball is being acknowledged by the NBA.
“My heritage is really important to me and my family. I’m proud of being Filipino. It’s a special thing for Filipinos to be recognized around the NBA,” he said.
“The first NBA Filipino Heritage Week is the perfect opportunity for the NBA to celebrate the support of our Filipino fans around the world,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson. “The activities in the Philippines, Miami and Oakland will showcase the country’s vibrant culture and passion for basketball.”
Figures from 2008 from an article by Dominic Menor in Business Mirror show why Filipinos are special people for the NBA: 99 percent of the population is aware of the NBA. 75 percent consider themselves NBA fans (eclipsing the Olympic Games at 58 percent and domestic basketball at 48 percent). Nearly 4 in 10 play basketball—twice as many as the next most played sports—badminton and volleyball. During the NBA Season, 62 percent of the population watch NBA Games at least once a month and about 40 percent of the population watch the NBA on TV at least once a week. 33 percent intend to buy NBA branded items within the next year, rising to 44 percent among men (significantly more than the Asia and global averages).
That was in 2008, before NBA games came to free TV and NBA stores opened in the country. Can you imagine how many more Pinoy NBA fans there are now?
Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!