IT’S not all about basketball on opening day of the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan on Aug. 25.

That’s because world-class Filipino performers, led by “Asia’s Popstar Royalty”

Sarah Geronimo, are slated to provide the must-see, Filipino culture-inspired entertainment number to an expected record-breaking opening-day crowd.

Geronimo, who was named by Forbes as one of Asia’s 100 most influential pop stars in 2020, will entertain the audience with her signature energetic performances.

Popular band The Dawn and streaming sensation Ben & Ben will join Geronimo as they serenade the basketball-loving crowd with their award-winning classic Philippine rock-and-roll and folk-pop tunes.

The organizing Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas said the can’t-miss production number will take place after the first game pitting top-ranked Italy against Angola at 4 p.m. and before the highly-anticipated encounter between Gilas Pilipinas and the Karl-Anthony Towns-led Dominican Republic at 8 p.m.

The SBP is hoping the blockbuster doubleheader and the grandiose entertainment number headlined by Geronimo will be enough to reset the attendance record for a FIBA Basketball World Cup game.

The current FIBA World Cup attendance record is placed at 32,616.

Also inside the 55,000-seater Bocaue, Bulacan venue are booths of local and global event partners as well as other gimmicks that will give fans an unforgettable experience.

The Philippines is actually one of three host countries for the FIBA World Cup.

Set to play in the country are China, Egypt, Greece, Jordan, Lithuania, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Serbia, South Sudan, and the United States in the group phase, with the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay and the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City as playing venues.

Ticket Holders for the opening day at the Philippine Arena will be treated to two world-class games. They can avail of free shuttle services from major transportation hubs, as around 400 buses, using FIBA World Cup-dedicated lanes, will be deployed for the convenience of fans.

Tickets for opening day at the Philippine Arena and the Smart-Araneta Coliseum games are available via ticketnet.com.ph, while tickets for the SM Mall of Asia Arena contests are available via smtickets.com