55,000 fans and nowhere to hide: what it’s like to play in basketball’s biggest arena
The sprawling Philippine Arena hosts games in a country of fanatical basketball fans. Jamie Malonzo was lucky enough to play there in a Game 7
TL;DR
- The Philippine Arena, with a capacity of 55,000, is one of the world's largest indoor arenas, creating an overwhelming atmosphere for players.
- Player Jamie Malonzo found it challenging to focus due to crowd noise and had to invent hand signals to communicate with his team.
- Basketball is extremely popular in the Philippines, with fans treating players like idols and the sport being accessible across all socioeconomic levels.
- The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA), founded in 1975, is Asia's first pro basketball league and hosts record-breaking attendance games.
- Malonzo played in a Game 7 at the Philippine Arena that set a PBA attendance record, where his team won the championship, a significant moment in his career.
- Despite playing professionally in Japan now, Malonzo cherishes his time in the Philippines, drawn by a desire to connect with his roots and give back to the community.