When it comes to basketball, Filipinos go big or go home. And this time, they went really big.
The Philippines has official etched its name in the FIBA history books by attracting a staggering crowd of 38,115 fans to the Philippine Arena in Bulacan for the opening of the FIBA World Cup 2023.
“Making HISTORY in Manila. 38,115 fans packed Philippine Arena, setting a new FIBA Basketball World Cup record as the 2023 edition started with PUSO and passion!โ declared FIBA.
Making ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ in Manila ๐คฉ
3๏ธโฃ8๏ธโฃ,1๏ธโฃ1๏ธโฃ5๏ธโฃ fans packed Philippine Arena, setting a new FIBA Basketball World Cup record as the 2023 edition started with PUSO and passion!#FIBAWC x #WinForAll pic.twitter.com/PCoE67plIP
— FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 ๐ (@FIBAWC) August 25, 2023
The internet was quick to explode with applause from netizens worldwide as many believe that this achievement is well-deserved for a country that treats basketball like a religion.
imagine if this game was scheduled on Sunday! 45k easy!
— Maki.D.Figface (@MakitheCrappler) August 26, 2023
Woooow ! Amazing, congrats ๐๐
— SlamDeck (@SlamDeck) August 25, 2023
They love basketball in the Philippines
— Aaron โ๐ โพ๏ธ ๐ (@bowling23) August 25, 2023
Wow!!! Mabuhay, Pilipinas!!! ๐ต๐ญ๐ต๐ญ๐ต๐ญ #Puso โค๏ธโค๏ธโค๏ธ#FIBAWorldCup2023 #FIBAWC #FIBAWC2023
— El Maestro Yano (@nickflex_) August 25, 2023
As an American the time zone difference can be a bit of pain to watch games but itโs completely worth it because the Philippines deserve to see high level basketball.
Nobody loves basketball more than that country and Iโm rooting for them!
— Come Talk About Sports (@SavageHoopTalk) August 25, 2023
38 thousand World record crowd attendance, 5x MVP Fajardo, 2x MVP S. Thompson, NBA Allstar Jordan Clarkson, 7 footer Kai Sotto, A prodigy AJ Edu, leading scorer last FIBA CJ Perez…
VS 1 Chot Reyes. #GilasPilipinas #FIBAWC pic.twitter.com/DYD7tCTezO
— FlyingEraser|๐ต๐ญCrypto (@eraser_flying) August 27, 2023
The Philippines seized the spotlight by breaking the previous record held by Canada, where 32,616 spectators watched the 1994 FIBA World Championship game between the US and Russia.
Still, while the celebration was grand, it would have been a double whammy if Gilas Pilipinas had clinched a victory over Dominican Republic in the closely contested match, which ended in a 87-81 defeat.
Just get the W!
— ๐๐๐๐๐๐ (@lesterroar) August 25, 2023
Praying na manalo Team Pilipinas,ayaw kong maheartbroken kasama ng 38K na nanonood jan sa umpisa ng FIBAWC at sa Homecourt pa ntn!
— LizA (@agagon_lie87821) August 25, 2023
Mas maganda kung win ang na set na record hindi yung dami ng audience.
— AbedGreen (@hijodeputo2) August 26, 2023
Philippines๐ต๐ญ #GilasPilipinas lost the game against #DominicanRepublic but won the #FIBAWC record as the most number of basketball fans [38,115] watching FIBA Games all over the world
— ๐๐ซโ๏ธrabelโelkcas๐โโ๏ธ๐๐ (@MelkcasTrabel) August 25, 2023
