Hoops-mad Philippines bursting with pride at World Cup's arrival

MANILA — Considering that about 110 million people live in the Philippines, it's not feasible to expect that they all would be basketball fans.

"But it's close," said Tim Cone, the country's top professional coach.

And that might not be an understatement, either.

Basketball's World Cup starts on Friday, spread out over three nations — the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. It'll be centered in Manila, where the medal rounds will be held in early September, where the favored US team will play all its games in the event and where fans have been waiting for years for this chance at seeing some of the game's biggest names competing in their city.

"It's so unusual for big players to come here, unlike China. Everyone comes there," said Inigo Herrera, 25, who works in sales for his family's Manila business. "For us, it's like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If this is your first time in the Philippines and you go around, you will see kids playing basketball everywhere. Everywhere."

The Americans arrived on Tuesday morning in Manila. They were greeted by local and tournament officials at the airport, had fans on motorcycles waving at the motorcade as their buses drove away, and were greeted at their hotel by more fans.

Herrera was among those who stood in the lobby for just a glimpse of the Americans.

"I have goosebumps right now," another of Herrera's friends, RJ Tan, said as he held an Anthony Edwards jersey. And yes, he did have goosebumps, even several minutes after the Americans walked past him to get to the elevators leading to their rooms after about 10 hours of flying from Abu Dhabi.

The home nation — which has declared Friday a national holiday of sorts, closing schools and some businesses to mark the occasion — is in the World Cup and has its sights set on history. While there is little chance of a magical run by the Philippines to win the tournament, there is an effort to get at least 32,617 fans to the Philippines' first game in the tournament and break the World Cup attendance record set at Toronto in 1994 when the US rolled past Russia in the gold-medal game.

"I had the good fortune of visiting Manila in 1996," USA Basketball men's national team managing director Grant Hill said. "The love for the game there is absolutely incredible."

FIBA secretary-general Andreas Zagklis was asked last week about the excitement level that the Philippines has shown for the World Cup.

His response: "You have not seen anything yet."