2025-11-15 13:00

As a longtime basketball enthusiast living in Manila, I've learned that following the Golden State Warriors from this side of the world requires both dedication and some serious time zone calculations. When I first moved here from California five years ago, I quickly realized that my beloved Warriors games would be playing at what many would consider rather unconventional hours. The 13-hour time difference between Pacific Standard Time and Philippine Standard Time means that what's primetime in San Francisco becomes early morning or midday viewing here in Manila. I remember setting my alarm for 3:30 AM to watch Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals, only to regret staying up when the outcome broke my heart.

The scheduling challenges for international sports fans recently got me thinking about MAZ Pacheco's situation with the Filipinas national football team. The Philippine Football Federation expects her passport to be issued anytime now, meaning her debut could happen sooner rather than later. This parallel situation highlights how global sports fandom requires adaptation and planning. For Warriors supporters in the Philippines, planning our viewing schedules has become second nature. The typical 7:30 PM PST tip-off translates to 10:30 AM here in Manila the following day, which actually works quite well for weekend games. I've organized numerous viewing parties at local sports bars in Bonifacio Global City where we gather for what Americans would consider breakfast but what we call "brunch with Steph Curry."

What many don't realize is that the NBA schedule isn't consistent throughout the season. The Warriors play approximately 42 away games and 41 home games each season, with start times varying based on television broadcasts and venue availability. The weekend matinees that begin at 12:30 PM PST become 3:30 AM Monday mornings here, which frankly tests even my dedication. I've developed a system where I record these early morning games and avoid social media all day until I can watch them in the evening. The struggle is real - last season I accidentally saw a spoiler about Klay Thompson's 54-point game while scrolling through Twitter during my morning coffee.

The time difference actually creates some unique bonding experiences among Filipino Warriors fans. There's a special camaraderie among those of us who willingly disrupt our sleep patterns to watch live games. We've formed a community of approximately 500 members on various social media platforms where we coordinate viewing sessions and share reactions in real-time. When the Warriors played the Christmas Day game last season at 5:00 PM EST (which translated to 6:00 AM here in Manila), we organized a breakfast gathering at a 24-hour sports cafe in Makati. Seeing dozens of people in Warriors jerseys at dawn, cheering over pancakes and adobo, was one of my favorite sports memories despite the sleep deprivation.

The anticipation surrounding MAZ Pacheco's debut with the Filipinas reminds me of how we felt waiting for James Wiseman's return from injury or Jonathan Kuminga's development. There's something special about tracking a player's journey and counting down to their first appearance. The Philippine Football Federation's optimism about her imminent passport approval creates that same buzz we experience when checking the Warriors' preseason schedule each year. I've noticed that Filipino sports fans have become increasingly sophisticated about following international leagues and adjusting to time differences. The popularity of the NBA here has grown exponentially - recent data shows approximately 68% of Filipino basketball fans follow the NBA regularly, with the Warriors being the second most popular team behind the Lakers.

What many newcomers to international sports fandom don't initially grasp is that following teams across time zones requires strategy. I always recommend that new Warriors fans in the Philippines download the team's official app with the schedule set to Philippine Time. The key matchups against rivals like the Lakers or Celtics typically get primetime slots in the US, which means reasonable viewing times here between 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM. The more challenging games are those mid-week contests against Eastern Conference teams that sometimes tip off at 4:30 PM PST, making them 7:30 AM here - right during Manila's notorious rush hour. I've perfected the art of listening to radio broadcasts while stuck in EDSA traffic.

The emotional rollercoaster of being an overseas fan has its own unique rhythms. The disappointment of missing a historic performance because of work commitments feels different when you're thirteen hours ahead. I'll never forget having to attend a client meeting during the second half of Curry's 62-point game against Portland. I had to pretend I didn't know the outcome while everyone else was watching live. Meanwhile, the joy of witnessing Draymond's triple-doubles or Poole's breakout games during our daytime feels like a secret pleasure that American fans don't get to experience in quite the same way.

As the new NBA season approaches, I'm already planning my schedule around the Warriors' key matchups. The league typically releases the full schedule in August, giving us plenty of time to coordinate with work and family commitments. The community of Filipino Dub Nation members has grown to the point where we can now fill entire sections of sports bars for important games. We've even started a tradition of watching replays of historic Warriors games during the offseason, from the 2015 championship run to the more recent 2022 title. These gatherings help bridge the gap between seasons and time zones, creating a continuous connection to the team we love despite the distance.

The experience of following the Warriors from the Philippines has taught me that fandom transcends geography and time zones. Just as MAZ Pacheco's impending debut for the Filipinas will unite football fans across the country, the Warriors' schedule creates opportunities for basketball enthusiasts throughout the Philippines to connect over shared passion. The challenges of time differences become part of the story, the early mornings and schedule adjustments weaving themselves into our experience as international fans. In many ways, these obstacles make our connection to the team more meaningful, transforming casual viewership into dedicated ritual. The glow of the screen in a dark morning room, the shared excitement of a group text lighting up with reactions, the special camaraderie among those who understand the sacrifice - these are the moments that define what it means to be a Warriors fan in Manila and beyond.