TO say that 2023 was an eventful year for Philippine sports is an understatement. The country witnessed many great feats of national athletes in international tournaments, capped off by the country’s historic co-hosting of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, supported by Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart).
“We’re here to continue writing the story of basketball. The game we love has changed rapidly since the early days; just look at the challenge even the greatest basketball nations face – with millions of kids playing in tens of thousands of courts all over Asia, South America, and Oceania,” said PLDT Chairman and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas Chairman Emeritus Manuel V. Pangilinan and key figure in bringing the FIBAWC to the Philippines, calling it “a gift to the Filipino people who adore the sport.”
For Pangilinan, FIBAWC was a chance for Philippine basketball to plow more fertile ground for legends to grow. “To have our hard courts, our backboards and hoops, our fans bear witness to the story of Philippine basketball as it is written – to emphasize that this basketball-crazy country of our belongs to the league of basketball nations and for the Philippines to be a cradle of enduring legends.”
Elevating the standards of international events
As Head of the Philippine Local Organizing Committee of the FIBAWC 2023, PLDT and Smart President and CEO and President of Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) Alfredo S. Panlilio said the country’s hosting reaped benefits beyond basketball. “We not only witnessed world-class athleticism, but also showcased the capability, hospitality, and Puso of Filipinos to orchestrate a global event. With the record-breaking turnout of 38,115 fans during the final phase opener at Philippine Arena, we demonstrated that our nation is not only a powerhouse in basketball enthusiasm, but also a formidable host that can elevate the standards of international sports events,” Panlilio said.
The Philippines’ hosting duties likewise helped boost massive tourism and consumer spending brought about by the event, and aided in strengthening international relations with other nations. “The FBWC presented a chance to show the viability of our country as an investment destination for global businesses, and provided livelihood opportunities for micro, small, medium, and large enterprises in the country,” said Panlilio, who is a Member of the FIBA Central Board and is the 2nd Vice President of the FIBA Asia Board.
The successful hosting of the whole FIBA event led to the renewal of FIBA and Smart’s Global Partnership until after the FIBAWC 2027 in Qatar.
Creating history
Aside from the World Cup, the Philippines also saw commendable performances of national athletes in the Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games which resulted to a medal haul for the country, including the record-breaking achievement of EJ Obiena, and of course, Gilas Pilipinas’ inspiring gold medal win.
Speaking of inspiring feats, the Philippine Women’s National Football Team, or more lovingly known as Filipinas, also created history when they carried the flag at the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 for the first time ever.
“It’s a good start for the Filipinas. We hope to see them again in succeeding World Cup tournaments. We also would like to congratulate Philippine Football Federation for gathering these talented young women to represent the nation,” said Pangilinan.
Football is only one of the 17 national sports agencies backed by the MVP Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports sports development in the country —from grassroots to the national level.
Enhancing the experience of sports fans
Meanwhile, PLDT and Smart continue to enhance the experience of sports fans. Taking mobile livestreaming to a whole new level, Smart and US-based Radisys® Corporation, a subsidiary of Jio Platforms Limited, successfully ran its beta test of Smart LiveStream App’s groundbreaking new features at the FIBAWC.
Local collegiate and professional sports fans were also able to catch the games on the go with the Smart LiveStream App for free while connected to Smart mobile internet or PLDT Home WiFi. Smart LiveStream offers a user-friendly interface and high-quality streaming to make the experience more fun for fans. Smart subscribers are free to stream, no subscription needed.
“From FIBA and the Asian Games to PBA, PVL, and UAAP, PLDT and Smart celebrate the spirit of competition, teamwork, and sportsmanship by enabling Filipinos nationwide to watch and cheer for their favorite teams whether on their mobile phones or Smart TV with the Smart LiveStream App,” said Jude Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart.
All these initiatives underscore the commitment of PLDT and Smart to the UN SDG #3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG #9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.