TapDMV secures Philippine broadcast rights to USA Basketball Showcase

With the United States hoping for a successful fifth title defense in Paris, USA Basketball has arranged for a few exhibitions to help keep the team sharp.

Called the USA Basketball Showcase, it will take place in the next couple of weeks across the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom, before the actual action takes place at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the French capital.

They will face off against tough competition, each of which are also set to play in the Olympics, too.

The schedule of the USA Basketball Showcase is as follows (Philippine Time):

● July 11 (Thursday), 10:30 a.m. - vs. Canada (Las Vegas, United States)

● July 16 (Tuesday), 12:00 a.m. - vs. Australia (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.)

● July 18 (Thursday), 12:00 a.m. - vs. Serbia (Abu Dhabi, U.A.E.)

● July 21 (Sunday), 3:00 a.m. - vs. South Sudan (London, United Kingdom)

● July 23 (Tuesday), 3:00 a.m. - vs. Germany (London, United Kingdom)

All of these matches are going to be available locally, thanks to the collaboration of Tap Digital Media Ventures (TapDMV).

In sharing the announcement, BlastTV and Blast Sports Chief Growth Officer Jacque M. Ruby shares, "We are delighted to bring this incredible series of exhibition games featuring USA Basketball’s star-studded roster. The USA Basketball Showcase is a must-watch event for every Filipino fan, and we are proud to deliver coverage on our free-to-air and pay TV channels and the BlastTV app."

TapDMV will have the exhibitions shown on free-to-air channel Blast Sports, as well as onto its cable TV sports channels: Tap Sports, Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports 2 and Premier Football. Those who have the streaming platform BlastTV will also have the games.

Aside from these matches, TapDMV also will show a couple more exhibitions live: Australia against Serbia at midnight on July 17, as well as the United States' women's team against their German counterparts at 3am on July 24.

Beginning Thursday, July 11 through Tuesday, July 23, Tap Digital Media Ventures (TapDMV) will deliver the USA Basketball Showcase to fans in the Philippines through free-to-air channel Blast Sports, cable TV channels Tap Sports, Premier Sports 1, Premier Sports 2 and Premier Football, and streaming platform BlastTV.

With most of the matches being early in the day, Blast Sports will show the games via delayed broadcast at 8am.

Seeking the gold once again for the United States are: Bam Adebayo, Devin Booker, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, and Derrick White.

Serving as their head coach is Steve Kerr, with Mark Few, Ty Lue, and Erik Spoelstra acting as his assistants.

For more information on Blast TV, visit app.blasttv.ph, download the Blast TV App on the App Store and Google Play, and follow Blast TV (@blasttvph) on Facebook, Instagram and X.

USA Basketball names 28-man pool for 2014-16

USA Basketball named its initial pool of talent from which it is to draw its roster for the 2014 FIBA World Cup and possibly the 2016 Rio Olympics.

A group of 28 NBA players were named to the initial pool, most of which have had experience in either the Olympics or in the World Championships (which the World Cup replaces).

Included in that list are eleven players from the team that won the gold medal in the 2012 London Olympics (Kobe Bryant is the lone non-participant from that group). Also included are seven players from the team that won the 2010 FIBA World Basketball Championships in Istanbul.

USA Basketball Chairman and National Team Managing Director Jerry Colangelo referred to the announcement as "the first step of building the USA Basketball National Team pool of players for 2014-16." He adds that the pool is "extremely talented, deep and versatile," and noting the 11 out of 12 factoid, highlighted the recognition and importance that the players have made in representing the United States.

Colangelo cited the continuity and familiarity that has been set up in the squad, noting that all 28 players named have had previous involvement with the program. He also says he has the option to add players onto the pool as he sees fit, in case of any injuries or other kinds of circumstances that might take place.

Returning to the pool are three-time Olympians LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, two-time Olympians Chris Paul and Deron Williams and one-time Olympians Tyson Chandler, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook and Dwight Howard.

Also called up into the pool are Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose, who were with Chandler, Durant, Iguodala, Love, and Westbrook in the 2010 title-winning team in Turkey.

Blake Griffin, who was originally in the 2012 Olympic roster before being sidelined due to injury, highlights the newcomers, which are composed of LaMarcus Aldridge, Bradley Beal, DeMarcus Cousins, Andre Drummond, Kenneth Faried, Paul George, Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving, Kyle Korver, David Lee, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard and Klay Thompson.

Returning to coach the team is Duke University head coach Mike Krzyzewski, with Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim, Chicago Bulls head coach Tom Thibodeau and New Orleans Pelicans head coach Monty Williams as his assistants.