In the basketball-crazed Philippines, the World Cup will be a shining moment

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — Considering that about 110 million people live in the Philippines, it’s not feasible to expect that they all would be basketball fans.

“But it’s close,” said Tim Cone, the country’s top professional coach.

And that might not be an understatement, either.

Basketball’s World Cup starts on Friday, spread out over three nations — the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. It’ll be centered in Manila, where the medal rounds will be held in early September, where the favored U.S. team will play all its games in the event and where fans have been waiting for years for this chance at seeing some of the game’s biggest names competing in their city.

“It’s so for big players to come here, unlike China. Everyone comes there,” said Inigo Herrera, 25, who works in sales for his family’s Manila business. “For us, it’s like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If this is your first time in the Philippines and you go around, you will see kids playing basketball everywhere. Everywhere.”

The Americans arrived on Tuesday morning (Monday night EDT) in Manila. They were greeted by local and tournament officials at the airport, had fans on motorcycles waving at the motorcade as their buses drove away, and were greeted at their hotel by more fans.

People play basketball in front of a wall painted with JIP, the FIBA Basketball World Cup mascot, Thursday, Aug. 17, 2023, in Taguig city Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

Herrera was among those who stood in the lobby for just a glimpse of the Americans.

“I have goosebumps right now,” another of Herrera’s friends, RJ Tan, said as he held an Anthony Edwards jersey. And yes, he did have goosebumps, even several minutes after the Americans walked past him to get to the elevators