MANILA, Philippines — There were approximately 10,978 people in attendance at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena last Saturday night to catch the U.S.A. men’s national basketball team take center stage for the first time in the 2023 FIBA World Cup tournament.
Among the local celebrities, influencers, politicians, and players that were present at the MOA Arena, it was none other than Lakers guard Austin Reaves who stood out as the most popular person in the arena. Every single time Reaves’ name echoed around the arena — from team introductions, to every scored basket — the undrafted guard from Newark Arkansan heard the loudest cheers from the Philippine crowd.