Rockets-Pacers to play in PH? The Houston Rockets, starring Jeremy Lin and James Harden, will see action in the Philippines next season, along with the Indiana Pacers. Li Shuangfu, a reporter, who covers the games of the Los Angeles Lakers and the LA Clippers for SINA, the sole Internet partner of the NBA in China on a daily basis, reported on his twitter account that the games will take place both in Manila and Chinese Taipei, while the Lakers and the Golden State Warriors will reportedly play in China Adam Wells, a featured columnist of Bleacher Report, noted that the NBA’s experiment with regular-season games overseas has worked so well, that Li is reporting that the league will be expanding the international schedule starting next season. Gilas national coach Chot Reyes, who played a key role when businessman-sportsman Manny Pangilinan brought to the Philippines a collection of NBA superstars, led by Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant to play game against a PBA All-Star Selection and the Smart Gilas national team last year during the NBA lockout, said he understands the visit is being discussed by the NBA and the SM Group, which owns the spanking new Mall of Asia. The visit of the NBA superstars, who played two games at the Smart Araneta Coliseum, drew a huge crowd, who were grateful for the chance to watch some of the biggest names in the NBA show their wares in the basketball-crazy Philippines. Reyes said the Rockets-Pacers encounter would be a pre-season game, which would surely make tickets costly. Li said the Rockets-Pacers game reportedly to be played in Manila may seem “dull on the surface,” but reasoned out that the Rockets “have built up a strong international following over the years, thanks to drafting Yao Ming No. 1 overall in 2002.” However, with Lin and his friendship with Filipino boxing hero Manny Pacquiao, the Rockets-Pacers game whether a regular season game or an exhibition, should fill the MOA, where the FIBA-Asia Championships will be played this August, or the refurbished Smart Araneta Coliseum. Hoping this happens for my fellow Rockets bros here . I might not be able to watch it though
