MANILA, Philippines — Disney+ Philippines welcomed ESPN NBA insiders Brian Windhorst and Tim MacMahon to Manila on Monday to launch its coverage of the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Oct. 5 event marked the Manila stop of The Hoop Collective World Tour and the start of Disney+ Philippines’ “The Plus Side” campaign ahead of the new NBA season.
The event featured a live recording of ESPN’s The Hoop Collective podcast, hosted by Windhorst with Gilas legend Jimmy Alapag as a special guest.
Alapag, the current head coach of the NLEX Road Warriors, previously served as a player development coach for the Sacramento Kings.
“When I came to Manila in 2023, I was energized by the passion of Filipino basketball fans and how much they understood the nuances of the game,” Windhorst said. “As soon as I left, I said I wanted to come back and engage with the fans. The fact that Disney+ is where you get the NBA in the Philippines, it’s such a great opportunity for us to come together and promote it.”
The 2026-27 NBA season tips off Oct. 22 on Disney+ Philippines.
Opening day coverage begins with a doubleheader: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Miami Heat at 7:30 a.m., followed by Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers at 10 a.m.
Along with live games, Disney+ will carry ESPN studio coverage including “Inside the NBA,” “NBA Today” and “NBA Countdown.”