MANILA (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The Philippines is known for being a country that is hugely passionate about basketball and it certainly lived up to that reputation by making the Trophy Tour feel very welcome.

As part of a three-day visit (4-6 July) to Manila, there has been a loud buzz and large turnout of people to see the trophy and find out more about the campaign to spread the word about the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The tournament is now less than two months away (30 August-14 September) with fans in the Phillipines eager to see how their beloved Gilas Pilipinas can fare against the best in the world.

On Friday and Saturday, the Trophy Tour took centre stage in the SM Megamall Atrium, where activities included shoot-outs as well as photobooth and product display for FIBA's global partners Peak and Molten.

Friday evening saw members of the Philippines' men's national team attend an opening ceremony to unveil the Naismith Trophy.

The event has been the talk of the town - and the country - even taking centre stage on Solar Sports.

On Sunday, the Trophy Tour will spend its last day in the Philippines at the Mall of Asia Music Hall from 10am to 7pm local time (CET +6/GMT + 8), with a special treat of photo opportunities and autograph signing by members of Gilas Pilipinas.

In order to satisfy the requests of the Philippines' national basketball federation, Samahang Basketball NG Pilipinas, and the Philippines Basketball Association (PBA) for a Trophy Tour stop that coincides with the 2014 PBA Governor's Cup Finals, FIBA took the exceptional measure of having two trophies away from the headquarters of the International Basketball Federation at the same time.

The original Naismith Trophy - which customarily sits on permanent display at the House of Basketball - is currently at the Trophy Tour stop in Helsinki, Finland.

The Naismith Trophy that the winners of the FIBA Basketball World Cup hold aloft in victory in Spain this summer is in Manila.

FIBA