The NBA Store in the Philippines finally opens on December 6

NBA Store in Glorietta 3. (photo from the NBA)

After a long wait, the largest NBA Store outside the United States and the first in Southeast Asia will open this Saturday, December 6.

Located at Glorietta 3 inside the Ayala Center in Makati, the store will take up over a thousand square meters of space covering two floors. Three-time NBA All-Star and current NBA TV analyst Rip Hamilton will be present to grace the opening and meet with fans.

The NBA Store will have merchandise from all 30 teams, as well as a comprehensive assortment of NBA products that includes Adidas apparel and footwear (Adidas is the NBA's official outfitter) and personalized jersey services. It will also have an interactive zone, where fans can hone their NBA 2K skills, or measure themselves against their favorite players. There are also items in the store that cannot be bought anywhere else in the country.

NBA Asia Senior VP and Managing Director Scott Levy found it fitting that the Philippines will be hosting the largest NBA Store outside of the United States, highlighting the Filipinos' passion and excitement for the NBA, whether it is through TV, social and digital media, events, and at the NBA Cafe. He adds that this is an opportunity for fans to proudly express their loyalty to their favorite NBA teams / players.

International Athletic Trading Company, Inc. (IATC) will manage the Philippines' NBA Store, and its President and CEO, Melvin Lloyd Lim, is excited to be working with the league in opening this one-of-a-kind store. Lim sees this store not only as the place to get the widest range of NBA merchandise, but also as a destination point for future NBA activities in the basketball-mad country.

To commemorate the opening, the first 300 visitors to the NBA Store will be getting special perks, including the chance to meet with Hamilton, as well as have opportunity to snag limited edition footwear, NBA Store GCs, and other NBA merchandise

NBA Store in the Philippines to open later this year

On Wednesday, the NBA announced that the Philippines will be the first ASEAN member to have a NBA Store.

Set to open later this year, the NBA Store will be the definitive place to purchase authentic NBA merchandise from all 30 teams. There will also be autographed memorabilia for exclusive products only available at the NBA Store Philippines. Also, official NBA outfitter adidas will have its products also on display inside.

NBA Asia Senior VP and Managing Director Scott Levy says that "the passion and excitement of NBA fans in the Philippines have helped us deliver so many dedicated Filipino NBA destinations across TV, social and digital media, events and the NBA Cafe. He adds, "It is only natural that the Philippines should also have the first NBA Store in Southeast Asia.  This will present yet another opportunity for our fans to get closer to the game, and proudly display their loyalties to their favorite teams and the players."

To celebrate the announcement, there will be a series of activities that will take place today and tomorrow at the Glorietta Main Activity Center in Makati. Among the many things to happen during the event include meet-and-greet opportunities, NBA giveaways, hip-hop dance workshops, and a NBA 2K14 face-off between celebrities and gamers. NBA merchandise will also be in display for the fans, as a possible preview on what to expect inside the store.

Robin Lopez, Wesley Matthews, Avery Johnson, the Laker Girls, and Denver Nuggets' mascot Rocky the Mountain Lion will also be present and interact with the fans.