 |
| (Image Source: Daily Tribune/Smart Communications Inc.) |
Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has bagged bronze in the prestigious 2023 CLIO Sports Awards for turning the iconic SM Mall of Asia landmark in Pasay City into a giant basketball to serve as a massive welcome to the FIBA World Cup 2023, the world’s biggest basketball tournament. CLIO Sports honors the best in sports advertising and marketing worldwide every year. This is the first CLIO Sports recognition for Smart which is also the only Filipino brand in this year’s list of winners alongside world-leading brands such as Adidas, ESPN, NBA, NFL, Nike, Under Armour, and Xbox among others.
“We dedicate this recognition to all basketball-loving Filipinos whose passion for the sport inspired the world-class MOA Ball,” said Smart First Vice President (FVP) and Head of Prepaid and Content Lloyd Manaloto. “Basketball is deeply embedded in our culture, and it is only fitting that we build a world-class and larger-than-life basketball tribute for one of the biggest international sports events hosted by the Philippines. We share this award with all our teams and partner agencies who worked tirelessly to turn our vision into reality,” Manaloto added. Smart worked with creative agency Gigil, media agency Metropolis, and production partner UpRising for the award-winning landmark.
As FIBA global partner, Smart unveiled the MOA Ball last August 15, 2023 to amplify the excitement of fans ahead of the FIBA World Cup 2023 opening. A total of 248 workers composed of site workers, engineers, safety officers, and designers built the captivating installation which measured 1.5 meters in diameter inside a ring with 111 meters in circumference, readily visible from airplanes flying to and from Manila during the international tournament. The MOA Ball left an indelible impression on FIBA World Cup 2023 delegates and fans who have shared photos and videos of the landmark on their social media accounts. Two months prior, Smart also scored a ‘Best Outdoor Ad’ recognition for the MOA Ball from BestAdsOnTV.com which monitors the world's best ads. Basketball fans can look forward to more epic experiences as Smart and FIBA have renewed their global partnership until after the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 in Qatar.
