Gatorade Proud to Fuel FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Milestones

Tweet

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 concludes with Europe as the new powerhouse in the biggest sports spectacle anticipated by more than 12,000 fans. Gatorade, the World’s No. 1 Sports Drink in the World, congratulates Germany for it sweeping campaign, capped off by an 83-77 triumph over Serbia at the finals match.

As the official sports drink of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, Gatorade joins FIBA in bringing the biggest hoop spectacle to life. Hosted in not one but three countries for the first time, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 set multiple milestones – including the most-attended FIBA game held at the Philippine Arena on August 25 with a record-breaking crowd of 38,115. This even surpassed the 32,616 previously set in the 1994 games when Team USA defeated Russia, 137-91, for the gold medal.

Manila co-hosted the event with Okinawa and Jakarta wherein the latter posted a new mark in attendance during the group stage matches – a total of 111,000 spectators from August 25 to September 3 held at the newly built Indonesia Arena Stadium. It was the highest ever achieved in Indonesian basketball, according to Indonesian State-Owned Enterprise Minister Erick Thohir.

Basketball is life for many Filipino fans which is why Gatorade was present both on and off the court. Only the Number 1 Sports Drink can bring fans closer to the action with halftime segments, namely the 3-Point Shootout and the Gatorade No Sugar Fit-O-Meter. Gatorade also surprised fans queuing for snacks outside the court with a Gatorade shooting game and a Gatorade No Sugar bike challenge. For those who couldn’t watch the games in person, Gatorade partnered up with supermarkets, gearing the fans with sports bottle and ticket raffles.

This made for a truly unforgettable basketball experience here in the Philippines, as it brought together fans and supporters from all over the world to our very own homecourt. All teams that qualified to the quarterfinals and the classification stage matches were welcomed by basketball obsessed Filipinos - truly a one-of-a-kind event where world-class basketball talents were on full display. Even after Gilas Pilpinas ended its campaign with a morale-boosting 96-75 triumph over China on September 2, Filipino fans showed tremendous love for the game, played passionately by all teams.

Team USA was a treat for the fans, composed by an all-star NBA squad with champion coaches, Steve Kerr and Erik Spoelstra. Notable players included Austin Reaves and Anthony Edwards. NBA stars playing for their home countries, Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, were highly anticipated by fans. However, Germany and Serbian players dominated the courts – leading to a European showdown.

“Even if nobody asked me, but I’m going to say it, I really appreciate it. It was so amazing. So many fans (here) support me,” said Doncic, the star player of the Dallas Mavericks said even after watching his team got beaten by Canada during the quarterfinal match.

Pinoy fans also gave their support to the other teams like Canada led by Dillon Brooks, Serbia bannered by Bogdan Bogdanovic and Germany spearheaded by Dennis Schroder. In between these milestones, world-class performance and sportsmanship were showcased by basketball players and sports enthusiasts – all fueled by Gatorade, the World’s No. 1 Sports Drink.

Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) Dennis Schroder led their country’s team to its first ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title.

As the official sports drink, Gatorade celebrates the glory of basketball – the world class performance of the players and the love for the game of every basketball aficionado.

China to host 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

Tweet

(L-R) Chinese delegation, basketball star Yao Ming, Chinese Olympic Committee vice president Gao Zhidan : Vice Mayor of Beijing and China 2019 bid committee chairman Zhang Jiandong; and Philippines’ delegation, president of Philippines Basketball Manuel V Pangilinan; Eight-time world boxing champion Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao; and actor Lou Diamond Phillips during the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup host announcement ceremony in Tokyo on August 7, 2015. (Photo by Toshifumi Kitamura/ AFP)

China wins the bidding war against the Philippines in the final presentations to become the official host of the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the FIBA Central Board announced Friday, August 7 in Tokyo, Japan.for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup hosting.

The delegations of the People's Republic of China and of the Republic of the Philippines presented clear impressions that the love of the sport is what drives them to want to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

China edged Philippines, which banked on the Filipinos’ passion for the sports and reach on social media in its bid for the hosting, with a presentation focusing on its strength in infrastructure, hosting experience, and resources.

The Chinese have hosted several international tournaments including the 2008 Beijing Olympics, 2010 Asian Games and the 2014 Nanjing Youth Olympics. They will also host the upcoming 2015 Fiba Asia Championships. Last Friday, July 31, China also won the rights to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. 

China also boasted of holding the Fiba World Cup, which is held every four years, in eight keys cities which are easily connected by several forms of modern transportation.

Presenters for the Philippine pitch were business tycoon and Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas president Manny V. Pangilinan; Filipino Hollywood actor Lou Diamond Phillips; former national team player Jimmy Alapag; and former national team head coach Chot Reyes.

The Philippine bid highlighted the Southeast Asian nation's deep-rooted love affair with basketball as FIBA's ticket to achieving its goal. It also leverage the country's Internet reach as the Social Media Capital of the world.

Basketball's world governing body made the decision after a stringent process that began right after last year's World Cup in Spain, and culiminated Friday in Tokyo with 20-minute presentations from each country followed by question-and-answer sessions.

Here are some of the strong statements of intent that were made. An evident as the leading figures behind both bids addressed the media, just hours before FIBA's Central Board is set to make its decision.

Yao Ming, China 2019 Ambassador and basketball star (asked to compare, based on his visits to the Philippines, the love of basketball there compared to the love of basketball in China): "You can't say that one type of love is better than the other. Both are great. Both countries have a great passion for basketball, particularly for FIBA basketball."

Manny Pacquiao, Philippines Congressman and eight-time world boxing champion: "I am a boxer but I am here because I love basketball so that tells you the passion that Filipinos have for basketball. If we host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, we can show that passion to the world."

Zhang Jiandong, Vice Mayor of Beijing and Chairman of the China 2019 bid committee: "At least 300 million people play basketball in China and if we host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, we can increase that participation. China is the most populous country in the world and we can make basketball the most popular sport in the world. We believe that we can make the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup a complete success because of China's economic stability, strong financial guarantee and the government's complete support. We can make it a safe, most reliable and risk-free event."

Manuel V Pangilinan, President of the Philippines Basketball Association: "In our country, basketball is number one. Ninety percent of the population play, watch or follow the sport in one way or another. It's not just Filipinos in the Philippines that are passionate about the sport. It's Filipinos all over the world. Football may be number one in many places around the world, but basketball is number one in the Philippines."

Gao Zhidan, Vice-President of the Chinese Olympic Committee: "Basketball is very popular in China and if we host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, we can foresee a great rise in that popularity. This will have a great impact on the professional league (CBA) as well as the university league which is developing very fast. It will help with our aim to train more athletes and get a bigger pool of talented players."

Lou Diamond Phillips, Filipino actor and director: "The Philippines has come of age and we are incredibly hopeful of geting to host the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. We are the biggest social media country and we already have more than two billion impressions of #PUSO2019."

Source : 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas fans meet Marc Pingris

Tweet

Filipino basketball fans (L-R) Jerome Hernandez, Jeiel Guarino, Andrew Penaranda, Mike Cleofe and Jose Clipper Besin pose with Gilas Pilipinas Player and Master Game Face ambassador Marc Pingris during a meet and greet event at the sidelights of the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Seville, Spain.

The winners of the Master Game Face Goes to Spain promo, sponsored by the biggest male face care brand in the Philippines, all flew to Spain for an 8-day all expenses paid trip and a once-in-a-lifetime chance to watch live and cheer for members of the national men’s basketball team, as they put their oil-free game faces on and play in the biggest basketball event in the world.

#Laban Pilipinas, #MasterGoesToSpain, #MasterGameFace

#PusoToTheMax Cheer!

Tweet

Gilas Pilipinas is the Philippine National Basketball Team under the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) previously called Smart Gilas Pilipinas.

Smart Gilas represents the Philippines at the 17th FIBA tournament. 

The national team's sponsors also believe that Gilas’ trademark “Puso” will take the squad to great heights despite the odds.

One of the sponsors who support Gilas’ cause is Max’s Restaurant. Max's has show their full support for the national team by launching events, activities and promos. Max's launched the campaign to back up Gilas.

Global Filipino brand Max’s Restaurant is counting on the power of social media as it drums up public support for Gilas Pilipinas, which gears up for its historic stint in the FIBA World Cup this August.

Launching the hash tag, “puso to the max” (#pusotothemax), Max’s is exhorting every Filipino from all over the world to express their love and support for the Gilas team set to fly to Spain to compete against the world’s elite.

“Puso to the Max seeks to ignite the spirit of nationalism and solidarity among Filipinos as we support the first Philippine team that has made it to the FIBA World Cup after 35 years. It is more than a hash tag, it is an expression of national pride and support for Gilas, who are our modern-day heroes and champions,” said Mark Gamboa, marketing director for Max’s Group of Companies.

The partnership of Max’s and Team Gilas links two elements that Filipinos are passionate about – basketball and authentic Filipino cuisine.

The “Puso to the Max” hash tag campaign is the celebration of the unyielding spirit of Filipinos and dedication of Team Gilas as they seek to showcase the undeniable caliber of Filipino talent on a global scale.

“Nothing of this magnitude can be achieved without team effort... that’s the story of Gilas. Here’s an entire nation coming together for Philippine basketball’s finest hour. That’s what Laban Pilipinas – puso – is all about,” said coach Chot Reyes of Gilas Pilipinas.

With this Cheer Video, by Max's with the theme #PusoToTheMax featuring Gilas Pilipinas Players by Max’s Restaurant

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVaSnh-4_Ws

Team Gilas Pilipinas showed their true mettle, winning four of their tune up games in Spain.

As they inch closer to their most awaited competition, let us continue to cheer for our players.

Good luck Gilas Pilipinas in the 2014 FIBA World Cup in Spain and in the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon.

For more details and updates, visit www.facebook.com/maxsrestaurant.