NBA to stage Filipino Heritage Week

Miami and Golden State will host Filipino Heritage Night games. Marcio Sanchez/AP (file photo)

By Dugout Philippines

MANILA–The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced the first NBA Filipino Heritage Week to celebrate Philippine culture with millions of Filipino fans around the world. The celebration in the Philippines, which will run from March 13-19, will feature a viewing party attended by an NBA legend, an NBA Cares event, and social media activations on the NBA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts in the Philippines.

As part of NBA Filipino Heritage Week, the Golden State Warriors and the Miami Heat will host Filipino Heritage Nights in March, featuring in-arena Philippine-themed activations including musical performances and giveaways. All three games will be available in the Philippines on Basketball TV, with the Heat-Minnesota Timberwolves and Warriors-Milwaukee Bucks matchups also airing on ABS-CBN Channel 2 and Sports + Action respectively.

“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.”

In addition, there will be specially designed merchandise to commemorate the first-ever Filipino Heritage Week.

NBA Filipino Heritage Week matchups include:

March 16 (March 15 U.S.) – Heat vs. New Orleans Pelicans: Head Coach and Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra, Hassan Whiteside and the Heat will face four-time NBA All-Star Anthony Davis and the Pelicans (Basketball TV)

March 18 (March 17 U.S.) – Heat vs. Timberwolves: The Heat will match up against reigning Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Karl-Anthony Towns and the Timberwolves (ABS-CBN, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV)

March 19 (March 18 U.S.) – Warriors vs. Bucks: Reigning back-to-back Kia NBA MVP Stephen Curry and seven-time NBA All-Star Kevin Durant will take on 2017 NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and the visiting Bucks (Sports + Action and Basketball TV)

More details on the first NBA Filipino Heritage Week will be announced in the coming weeks.

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