NBA.com Philippines site launched

MANILA, Philippines - The National Basketball Association yesterday announced the launch of the NBA.com Philippines, an exciting localized website featuring everything that Filipinos love on the global site – plus sections created specially for the local audience, improved social media and online community features and easy access to NBA content.

NBA.com Philippines is developed in conjunction with X-Play Online Games Inc. (X-Play), the casual gaming subsidiary of Philippine online publisher IP e-Game Ventures Inc., and Philstar.com, the online arm of The Philippine STAR.

“The NBA has a long history in the Philippines, and we are always looking to deliver bigger and better content to the millions of Filipino NBA fans,” said Carlo Singson, NBA Asia’s country manager for the Philippines. “We are excited to launch NBA.com Philippines where there is a good blend of local commentary, global content and event information all in one place, and IP e-Games’ expertise and reputation in the market make them the perfect partner for what we want to achieve.”

“It’s a great honor to be a part of this endeavor, knowing that we will be helping Filipino fans get their regular dose of NBA content – this time through NBA.com Philippines,” said Philstar.com president and CEO Kevin Belmonte. “Being a basketball-crazy nation and one of the major markets for the NBA in Asia, the Philippines deserves to have its own localized NBA website – a place on the Web that Filipino NBA fans can call their home.”

Philstar.com, as a partner, will boost NBA.com’s online presence in the Philippines through its real-time online reporting and social media networks.

The online news group will also provide support in maintaining NBA.com by publishing more game results and multi-media content, including action-packed photos and videos.

Enrique Gonzalez, CEO of IP Ventures Inc., added: "By launching a localized NBA.com website, we aim to enrich the experience for NBA fans in the Philippines, as well as expand the overall fan base. The Philippines has a growing internet user population of close to 30 million people. NBA forms the core of this offering supported by Philippine Star's reach and strong editorial coverage, and E-Games community and retail base of close to 8,000 internet cafes."

NBA.com Philippines, the official online site designed specifically for National Basketball Association fans in the country, was launched at the SMX Convention Center at the SM Mall of Asia yesterday. Photo shows (from left) Francesco Suarez, VP, Global marketing partnership, NBA Asia; Enrique Gonzalez, president and CEO, X-Play; former Chicago Bulls center Luc Longley; Kevin Belmonte, president & CEO, philstar.com; Carlo Singson, country manager-Philippines, NBA Asia; and Dan Rosen, director, Digital NBA Asia. JOEY MENDOZA

NBA.com Philippines is an enhanced NBA.com site, hosting information, events and updates in the NBA with additional sections and localized content. These include:

• NBA local events – Dedicated sections for on-ground NBA events in the Philippines;

* NBA dance teams – All the latest news on the NBA dance teams around the league;

• League news – The latest updates on your favorite NBA stars on and off the court;

• NBA.com Philippine polls – Fans can participate in polls that matter to NBA Filipino fans;

• Sports columnists – Opinions of the best local sports writers and analysis of NBA developments, among others.

Additionally, there will be improved social media interaction to support the million-strong online community.

Filipino fans can join the dedicated NBA Philippines Facebook Fan page and Twitter feed to post comments and participate in online discussions. 

There will also be special online events and columns by NBA luminaries and celebrities.

The local destination will also feature new developments which will give Filipino fans access to exclusive content, videos and more.

To commemorate the start of NBA.com Philippines, NBA, X-Play, IP e-Games and The Philippine STAR held an exclusive launch affair for both media and trade partners yesterday.

NBA legend and three-time NBA champion Luc Longley, NBA executives and local celebrities graced the event.

The Philippines is the third highest international originator of traffic to NBA.com.

In February 2012 alone, NBA.com attracted approximately four million monthly unique visitors from the Philippines, generating 56 million page views.

On social media, the global NBA Facebook page has more than 1.1 million fans, ranking the country second in the world behind only the United States.

Similarly, the Philippines ranks second in the world in NBA followers on Twitter, also behind the United States.

For more information visit NBA.com. Philippines at www.nba.com