Tweeting from the heart, Filipino netizens on Friday pushed the hashtag #PUSO2019 to support the country’s bid to host the Fiba World Cup in 2019. The 23-member Fiba Central Board however awarded the hosting stint to China.
Midway to the Fiba decision, the hashtag #PUSO2019 had already posted close to 120,000 tweets, making it the No. 1 trending topic worldwide.
The tweets carried a common theme eloquently expressed by Fil-Am Hollywood actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who was among the Filipinos who made a passionate pitch for the Philippines: “This country is born to host the 2019 Fiba World Cup, and we’re ready,” the actor said.
“Pambansang Kamao” and boxing champ Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao, business wizard Manuel V. Pangilinan and the Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas delegation led the Philippine team in lobbying for the Fiba hosting rights.
Follow your heart
Back home, the rest of the nation did its part to push the country’s cause.
“Love of Basketball by Filipinos is definitely authentic, something you cannot manufacture. And of course, not made in China! Lol #PUSO2019” netizen @sweetie_reese twitted.
“Follow your heart, @FIBA!The Philippines is ready for #FIBAWC. #FIBA2019” netizen @monsamarista said.
“For CHINA…. It’s just another big event. For (the) Philippines…. it’s a HOMEcoming, a HISTORY! @FIBA #PUSO2019,” said netizen @vinMEL28.
“Hotels can be matched but Filipinos’ passion and love for basketball cannot be found anywhere else but here in (the) Philippines #puso2019,” netizen @asyongdaone posted on Twitter.
“We may not have huge arenas YET but our hearts are always willing to accommodate this big basketball event @FIBA #PUSO2019 #PUSO2019,” netizen @asdfghjankarlie added.
The netizens declared unmatched passion for basketball as an important criteria in the Fiba choice, stressing that the Philippines is the “home” of basketball.
“PUSO DOESN’T SEE THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN, THE DICTION OF YOUR LANGUAGE, OR WHEREVER YOU CAME FROM…PHILIPPINES IS YOUR HOME #PUSO2019 @FIBA “netizen @JeannielPadilla said.
“Basketball in the Philippines is our joy, our life, bring it home…#PUSO2019” went netizen @aryhanskie’s ardent appeal.
“Cmon FIBA. Bring home the 2019 World Cup…yes HOME where it belong(s)!! #MVPfanoftheWORLD #PHILIPPINES #PUSO2019,” netizen @imbroken09 said.
And @Joyee_0426 made this pitch: “@FIBA we have the biggest love for this sport. Our passion for basketball is incomparable. Give it to us please #Pilipinas #PUSO2019”
“Great display of our country’s love for the game and the overall impact the World Cup will have on the nation moving forward! #PUSO2019,” said Gilas defender Gabe Norwood in his Twitter account @GNorwood5.
Bianca Gonzales-Intal also tweeted, “The biggest fan passion and the power to spread it globally. AAAAAAAAAH NAKAKAIYAK. #PUSO2019”
TV personality Cesca Litton tweeted: “And now we wait. But if there’s anything I can say, we Filipinos love basketball. It’s real. It’s deep. It’s all encompassing. #PUSO2019”
‘Dunkfies’
Aside from tweets, Filipinos all over the world shared pictures exhibiting the nation’s love for the sport. They also snapped “dunkfies,” all in support of the country’s World Cup bid.
But the biggest reason behind the country deserving to host Fiba in 2019 was tweeted by netizen @Angel_Locring: “Tandaan nyo, sa Pilipinas mas marami pang basketball court kesa kubeta! Yun lang, tapos na ang laban!” (Remember, it’s only in the Philippines where there are more basketball courts than toilets. That’s it, game over!)