FILIPINO basketball fans will get to join the rest of the world in welcoming the 72nd season of the National Basketball Association as ABS-CBN begins its free TV telecast of the world’s greatest basketball league with the live airing of the much-anticipated Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics game at 8 a.m. on S+A this Wednesday.
The game, which will have a same-day replay at 12 noon and on primetime at 10:30 p.m. on S+A, will be a great test for the Celtics’ new Big Three of Al Horford, Gordon Hayward, and Kyrie Irving as they face a retooled Cavaliers squad that has added former Celtics Isaiah Thomas and Jae Crowder, former MVP Derrick Rose, and former Finals MVP Dwyane Wade to help Lebron James reach his eighth straight Finals.
On Friday, fans will get a first taste of the Lonzo Ball experience as the Purple and Gold of the Los Angeles Lakers take on their cross-town rivals Los Angeles Clippers live at 10:30 a.m, with a replay on primetime at 6 p.m. The much-hyped second overall pick will have to lead a young team that includes Fil-Am star Jordan Clarkson against a Clippers team that still boasts of a formidable frontcourt of Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, and ballyhooed international star Milos Teodosic.
On Saturday, the Joel Embiid-led Philadelphia 76ers will challenge the Celtics in the return of #NBASabaDos on ABS-CBN at 8:30 a.m. with a replay on S+A at 11:30 a.m. and on primetime at 6:30 p.m. on S+A. On Sunday, defending champions Golden State Warriors will take their Steph Curry and Kevin Durant shows to the Memphis Grizzlies’ den at the FedEx Forum to face Marc Gasol and Mike Conley live at 8 a.m., with a replay at 11:30 a.m. and on primetime at 6:30 p.m. on S+A. Wrapping up the first week of NBA offerings on Monday is Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring transferee Jimmy Butler versus the powerhouse Oklahoma City Thunder, led by MVP Russell Westbrook and All-Stars Paul George and Carmelo Anthony LIVE at 7 am with same day replay at 12 noon and 6 p.m. on S+A.
S+A programs are mirrored on S+A HD SKYcable 166 so fans can also catch the games in high definition on cable.
In an effort to provide local hoops fans with the complete NBA experience, S+A is also airing the popular basketball show “NBA Action” every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 1 p.m., 11 a.m,, and 10:30 a.m., respectively.
“NBA Inside Stuff,” meanwhile, will be up every Tuesday starting on October 24 at 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
S+A continues to be the leading sports channel in the country with partnerships with various leading sports brands such as the NBA, ONE Championship, and local collegiate giants NCAA and UAAP. ABS-CBN’s sports channel is also actively supporting Filipino athletes and sports development in the country through highlighting the values and inspiring stories of Filipino sportsmen on TV and mounting basketball and volleyball clinics in barangays to encourage kids to get into sports.
For more information and stories on the NBA, visit the ABS-CBN’s sports hub sports.abs-cbn.com/nba and follow @ABSCBNSports on Facebook and Twitter. Sports fans can join the conversation on social media by using the hashtags #NBAonABSCBN and #NBASabaDos.