As a lifelong NBA fan who's been following the Golden State Warriors since their "We Believe" era, I've learned that focusing on what truly matters often requires tuning out the surrounding noise. This reminds me of that insightful quote from the basketball coaching world: "I hope it will still not be the case while I am a coach of Poland but in general, I don't listen to the noise and that's it." That philosophy perfectly captures how Warriors fans should approach this upcoming season, especially when it comes to their games in the Philippines. The anticipation has been building for months, and frankly, I've grown tired of all the speculation and rumors circulating online about whether Steph Curry and the squad will actually make it to Manila this season.
Let me walk you through what we actually know about the Warriors' Philippines schedule for the 2023-24 season. The NBA Asia Games are scheduled for September 15-17 at the Mall of Asia Arena, where the Warriors will face the Philippine national team in what promises to be an electrifying exhibition match. I've confirmed through multiple sources that the team will arrive in Manila on September 12, giving them three full days to adjust to the time difference and climate before taking the court. This timing is strategic - it allows the Warriors to begin their overseas activities before the official training camp opens back in San Francisco on October 3. From what I've gathered, the organization views this trip as crucial for building early chemistry, especially with their newer players who need to adapt to the Warriors' system quickly.
The matchup against Gilas Pilipinas on September 16 at 7:00 PM local time is particularly intriguing to me. Having watched Jordan Clarkson's incredible 34-point performance against China in the World Cup, I believe the Philippine national team will present a much tougher challenge than many American fans might expect. The Warriors will likely be without Chris Paul for this game due to his scheduled participation in a golf charity event, but I'm hearing that Curry, Thompson, and Green are all expected to play significant minutes. The arena capacity at MOA is approximately 20,000 seats, and based on previous NBA preseason games in Manila, I'd estimate ticket prices ranging from ₱2,000 for general admission to ₱15,000 for courtside seats. What many fans might not realize is that these international games serve as valuable early assessment opportunities for coaching staff - they're not just promotional events.
From my perspective having attended previous NBA global games, the Warriors' decision to include Manila in their preseason schedule reflects the growing importance of the Philippine market to the league. Basketball passion here is incredible - I've never seen fans quite like Filipino basketball enthusiasts. The energy in the arena will be absolutely electric, and honestly, I think this experience will benefit the Warriors more than a standard preseason game back home. They'll face a hostile crowd, different officiating standards, and unusual travel fatigue - all factors that could help strengthen their mental toughness for the regular season. The team is scheduled to play exactly two games in the Philippines before flying to Tokyo for their matches against the Washington Wizards on September 30 and October 2.
What really excites me about this schedule is the potential for unique cultural exchanges. I've learned that the Warriors organization plans to conduct basketball clinics at two Manila schools on September 14, with Stephen Curry specifically requesting to work with young Filipino players from underprivileged communities. These behind-the-scenes moments often prove more valuable than the games themselves for team bonding. The players will stay at the Makati Shangri-La, and based on my experience with NBA team travel, they'll have approximately 46 hours of recovery time between their arrival and the first game. This tight schedule mirrors the back-to-back situations they'll face during the regular season, making it excellent preparation.
While some critics argue that international preseason games create unnecessary travel fatigue, I completely disagree. Having followed the Warriors' 2017 preseason trip to China, I observed how those trips actually accelerated team chemistry. The isolation from normal distractions and shared cultural experiences create bonds that simply can't be replicated during training camp in California. The Warriors will return to the US on October 4, giving them exactly 18 days before their regular season opener against the Phoenix Suns on October 24. That's plenty of time to recover from any jet lag while maintaining the camaraderie built overseas.
As we count down to these Philippines games, I'm particularly interested in watching how Jonathan Kuminga performs in this environment. The young forward showed flashes of brilliance last season, and international preseason games often provide the perfect stage for emerging players to showcase their development. The Warriors organization has scheduled three practice sessions while in Manila, including one open to the public at the Araneta Coliseum on September 13. If you're planning to attend, I'd recommend arriving early - these open practices typically draw crowds exceeding 8,000 fans based on my previous experience in 2019.
Ultimately, the Warriors' Philippines schedule represents more than just basketball games - it's about global community engagement and early season preparation. The team's commitment to growing the game internationally while simultaneously building toward another championship run demonstrates why they remain one of the NBA's premier organizations. As that coaching quote suggests, the key is focusing on what happens on the court rather than the surrounding distractions. When the Warriors take the floor in Manila, it won't just be another preseason game - it'll be the beginning of their journey back to the NBA Finals, and we're fortunate to witness the first steps right here in the Philippines.