NBA moves closer to RP

THE GAME OF MY LIFE By Bill Velasco
Philippine Star
Saturday, October 20, 2007

MACAU – The NBA China Games are being held here for the first time, and many Filipino fans were able to get their first look at live NBA action. The games are being held at The Venetian Hotel and Casino, the largest casino in the world, which opened only two months ago. With over 3,000 rooms, it is a looming monument to American opulence, even bigger than the original in Las Vegas.

The trappings of the game itself looked like a regular season game. The Magic Dancers pumped up the crowd, and Orlando’s mascot, Stuff the Magic dragon entertained fans, as his Cleveland Cavaliers counterpart, Moondog, did the same. The NBA even had the Happy Dunkers and a Chinese acrobat balance dishes while pedaling an elevated unicycle, all under the watchful eye of NBA commissioner David Stern.

Despite having three reinforcements in Major Wingate, Franz Steyn and NBA veteran Olumide Oyedeji, the Chinese national team was smothered by the Orlando Magic, 116-92. A healthy crowd cheered former NBA player Wang Zhizhi, who scored 16 points, second only to Oyedeji, and Yao Ming’s best friend, Liu Wei. The hosts led 12-3 early, but the offensive might, rebounding and fastbreak execution was too much for them, as the Magic led 46-26, even before halftime. The visitors led by as much as 25.

Despite the absence of a packed arena, the NBA expressed no concern. The pricing of the tickets, the middle of the week schedule, and the absence of Yao Ming were minor factors.

“A lot of tickets went to corporate partners, and we don’t know what they do with them once we give them out,” explained NBA Asia senior marketing manager Carlo Singson. “So it’s hard to guarantee a full house. Still, we expect more of them to fly in for the weekend game.”

Today’s noon game pits the Magic against contender the Cleveland Cavaliers. Orlando center Dwight Howard clarified reports that he said he was going to dunk on Team USA teammate LeBron James, who watched the China game.

“If’ he’s anywhere near the rim and I go up for a dunk and he jumps, I’m pretty sure he’s going to get dunked on,” Howard told The Star. “I didn’t say I was going to go out of my way to dunk on him.”

Meanwhile, Singson also revealed that the NBA was bringing Team USA and the US women’s team to Shanghai, Macau and Beijing before next year’s Olympic Games. Singson, a Filipino, said that this would give Pinoys a chance to watch NBA games live.

“Asia is a big market, and we really are making long-term moves in this area,” Singson explained. “With the games here in Macau, Filipinos will be able to watch NBA games live without having to fly to the US.”

Howard, for his part, insisted that he’s been dying to go back to the Philippines since he visited the country as part of NBA Madness two years ago.

“I’ve been wanting to go back since I left,” he exclaimed. “I’ve been talking to adidas to send me back. I’d be on the first plane to Manila.”

Team USA’s starting center said that he had never experienced a people with such a joy for life as Filipinos.”

“It’s the smiles. People there were excited not just for basketball, but for life in general,” Howard said. “I even had a chance to go to places where there was no light, but you couldn’t tell because the people were so happy. Plus, they work for everything they want, which is great.”

Howard also explained how playing for Team USA in the FIBA-America tournament really opened his eyes to another level of play.

“I’ve always been a hard worker,” Howard continued. “But seeing LeBron, Kobe, Carmelo Anthony, work hard, carry themselves and how they deal with the media, always with dignity, it changed my perspective. Now, I work even when I don’t want to, when I’m tired or I don’t feel like it. It’s a big commitment.”

This writer had interviewed Howard before the FIBA-Americas Finals, and he couldn’t explain Team USA’s inability to blow Argentina out like the other teams. That changed in the playoffs.

“Our energy was so much higher,” Howard admits. “When we play our game, it’s not really about who our opponent is. One good thing about our team is everybody staying healthy.”

With regards to the Magic, Howard says the pre-season injuries aren’t a major factor, and he expects great things from his team this year.