Shopping mall magnate eyes regular NBA game in Philippines

MANILA -- A successful outcome of an exhibition match between the Houston Rockets and the Indiana Pacers this October can serve as prelude to future hosting of a regular game of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the Philippines.

SM Prime Holdings Inc. president Hans Sy said he opened up the plan to NBA commissioner David Stern while in Orlando, Florida, last year for an All Star Game but he is not sure yet about the logistical requirements.

"We're still figuring it out but in case there is a chance, I will bring it over," he said in a chance interview.

Sy, whose family is the country's richest with a net worth of $13.2 billion, runs the state-of-the-art Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, where the pre-season game will be held on October 10.

Following Tuesday's announcement, queries about the release and price of tickets immediately crowd social networking sites. The media also posed this question to Sy, who assured that it will be at a subsidized price.

"We took sponsors to cover the cost," he said.

The businessman, however, declined to comment how much it would cost to mount the historic pre-season game.

"I don't think it would be wise to be giving out those numbers. It's not a money-making thing, it's really a branding thing,” he said. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)