BOCAUE, Bulacan — So far, so good.

Members of the international media are having a good time covering the early stretch of the FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Philippine Arena here.

Italian Maurizio Fanelli of Rai Sports and Angolan Melo Clemente of SSPORT said the country's hosting has been great as they were able to explore the country while covering the games in the world's most prestigious basketball tournament.

"We arrived two days ago. We have visited a small part of Manila and we will visit the other parts of the country as well. We're focused on the matches of the Italian team and we hope things go well for our team," Fanelli said at the sidelines of the Filipinos' opening game against the Dominican Republic on Friday.

Clemente agrees, saying that their stay in the country has been terrific.

"Basketball is an important sport for us. It might not be as big as soccer but it is still important," Clemente, a writer, said, bracing for a tough battle between Gilas Pilipinas and the Angolans on Sunday at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

"Our stay is good. We hope our national team will have good games. We know the Philippines is a good team so our team will have some problems playing against them."

"This is my first time coming here to the Philippines and it's a good country. The people are very polite."