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| Cignal HD Spikers in the 2024 NBA Finals watch party (Image Source: One Sports/Cignal HD Spikers) |
Excitement filled the air at the Mansion Sports Bar and Lounge in Makati last June 13, 2024 as passionate fans gathered for the 2024 NBA Finals Watch Party presented by vivo Philippines for Game 3 between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks. Organized by vivo Philippines, Cignal and NBA Philippines, the event brought the thrill of the action-packed Finals to the Filipino audience, creating an immersive viewing experience for fans of all ages.
The atmosphere was electric as attendees, including several members of the Cignal HD Spikers, enjoyed the game and participated in parlor events. In the end, the Celtics defeated the Mavericks, 106-99, sending the Boston fans home in high spirits. NBA Asia Marketing Partnerships Lead Mae Dichupa emphasized the significance of such events in building and nurturing the love for the sport in the country, saying, “Sports viewing parties are very important because [they’re] an opportunity to bring sports fans together. Part of why Filipinos love sports is because it is a space where we build communities. And like this NBA Finals viewing party, it’s really so much fun because there are so many passionate NBA fans here in the Philippines.” vivo Philippines Assistant Brand Marketing Manager Glenn Chiu was thrilled about the continued partnership and the event, stating, “We’re very excited to be a part [of this event] and showcase our phones and how our users could also watch NBA games through their vivo smartphones, and be able to experience the joy of watching their favorite NBA games."
Cignal’s Alfred Valbuena, one of the key players of the team that ruled the 2024 Spikers’ Turf Open Conference, attested to the thrill that watch parties bring, saying, “Kasi siyempre alam natin dito sa Philippines din naging dominant na ‘yung basketball as a sport so kahit anong basketball events laging sinusuportahan ng mga tao. So ganitong mga watch party, lalo na’t NBA Finals na, sobrang saya na we get together with friends and teammates ko ngayon na manood kami Game 3 ng Finals." HD Spikers libero Jheck Dionela also echoed a similar sentiment, saying, “Sobrang umaapaw ‘yung excitement. Masaya at iba ‘yung atmosphere kapag kasama mo ‘yung taong fan talaga. It’s obvious naman everyone loves basketball, ‘di ba. Karamihan talaga ng tao gustong gusto ang basketball. To share it with all the other fans, with the same people who share the same passion, they keep supporting kasi masaya. It’s fun kasi kasama mo ‘yung friends mo and may mga banters."
The watch party not only celebrated the NBA Finals but also reinforced the strong basketball culture in the Philippines, promising more exciting events and collaborations in the future. “We’re seeing a lot more events being organized this year and we hope to see more of these collaborations and events that we can partner up with in the coming months. We’re planning and hoping to have another meet-and-greet actually in the next few months in the offseason, bringing in stars and NBA legends into the Philippines to further fuel up the spirits of our brand followers," said Chiu.
