Hoops mecca

More National Basketball Association (NBA) players could be arriving soon, as the Philippines is one of their favored destinations in Asia.

The NBA players want to experience the hospitality of the hoops-crazy Filipinos, just not under the NBA’s umbrella.

“NBA players want to go to the Philippines, but they want to come here under their brands and not under the league or certain companies,” said a source, who is closely monitoring the situation.

The Philippines saw many NBA players arrive in the past two years, starting with the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup where stars like Luka Doncic of Slovenia and Anthony Edwards of the United States competed.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma came to the country for his “KuzManila” 2024 Asia Tour last August.

Pogo just won’t die

The narrative that the Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (POGO) are gone and the problem has been solved seems overly simplistic.

The economic incentive is the P5 billion in revenue for the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) in 2023, with history suggesting vested interests might resist a complete purge.

The case of Bamban Mayor Alice Guo, the lack of transparency on post-ban enforcement, and the absence of a tally of active illegal hubs by April 2025 invite skepticism.

However, hard evidence of specific politicians profiting from POGOs is now non-existent. Rumors rely on patterns, not proof.

The shift underground is more verifiable: raids and worker displacement data align with expert warnings that POGOs would adapt, not vanish.

While vague, the Chinese Embassy’s advisory fits the context where Beijing wants the mess cleaned up, not festering covertly.

The POGO ban has sparked credible rumors of secret deals and hidden operations, with politicians potentially profiting from underground hubs, which is not incredible considering that most reelectionists are scrounging around for funds.

Verifiable signs — post-ban raids, worker activities, and spikes in crime, support the persistence angle, exploiting enforcement gaps and giving rise to corruption allegations.

A recent Chinese Embassy advisory likely ties into this, reflecting frustration with lingering instability. “Secret deals” amid a half-finished crackdown holds water.