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Basketball ranks number 1 in the list of popular sports in the Philippines. It was invented on December , 1891 by Y M C A instructor Dr. James Naismith in Springfield Massachusetts. Naismith formulated the game on the request of his superior, Dr. Luther Gulick, that he organized a vigorous recreation suitable for indoor winter play. It was winter and some of his students lack interest in formal gymnasium exercise. So then, he decided a game in which players would have to throw a ball into baskets. To create the game, he used peach basket and soccer ball. In 1891, the first ever basketball game between his students took place. When the game was first played, nine people formed the team. In the early days, soccer ball was used. Every time a goal was made, someone had to climb a ladder to get the ball out of the basket. After a while, wire mesh baskets were used. In 1893, the metal hoop similar to that of today was introduced for the first time. At first, when a basket was missed, the ball would go into the crowd causing too much delay to get the ball back . In 1895, backboards were put up so the ball would bounce back into the playing court. The soccer ball was replaced by the first basketball. By 1897-1898, teams of five became standard. In 1920's , small basketball leagues were forming around the country. In 1936, basketball officially became an Olympic sport. Another significant development happened on 1936, when Stanford College group traveled from California to a Madison Square Plant promotion to challenge the eastern powers within the “cradle of basketball”. Onlookers and rivals were shocked by the Stanford fashion of shooting one-handed whereas jumping, which differentiated to the predominant strategy of taking two handed shots whereas standing still. In 1959, Basketball Hall of Fame was founded in Springfield, Massachusetts. Its rosters include great names of players, coaches, referees, and people who contributed significantly to the development of the game. The rules and equipment has changed and adjusted over the years and the game would continue to evolve. Basketball was introduced to the Philippines by the Y M C A early in the American colonial period The Philippines won several medals in various pan-Asian competitions over the next few decades. Winning the 1913 Far Eastern games was an incredible moment for the nation. This was the springboard that made basketball what it is today, the most popular sport in the Philippines. The Philippines won bronze at the 1960 FIBA World Championship, the highest finish to date of any Asian nation in the games(now the FIBA World Cup.) By 1975, the Philippines had established the Philippine Basketball Association, the first pro basketball league in the world outside of the United States. This are the List of current Philippine Basketball Association team rosters. Alaska Aces, Barangay Ginebra San Miguel, Blackwater Bossing, Magnolia Hotshots, Meralco Bolts, NLEX Road Warriors, NorthPort Batang Pier, Phoenix Super LPG Fuel Masters, Rain or Shine Elasto Painters, San Miguel Beermen, Terra Firma Dyip, TNT Tropang Giga, Basketball is played on both the amateur and professional levels. Almost everywhere you look in the country, on the streets or along pristine beaches , or in flashes amongst the forests – you will see people sportingthe colors of their favorite teams. Why did basketball take off the way it did? When the Americans brought organized sport to the country, they focused on baseball and basketball Its accessibility is a real key to why so many people play it – and it is fast and entertaining too. Basketball suits the life of Filipino teenagers well, and is easy to learn but hard to master. The country’s love for the game continues. Nike reports that the Philippines is its third largest basketball market after the USA and China, and whether on the islands, or in the city –basketball runs through the heart of the nation. Filipinos have more access to professional basketball games than Americans themselves, with games shown on cable daily, broadcasted across four to five channels simultaneously.