“Don’t take EDSA,” former senator Ping Lacson advised FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 participating teams yesterday. “You will lose the game by default.”
Well, they could travel by train instead. Although the odds of that happening are pretty much nil, so instead, just enjoy the photoshopped images here of Jordan Clarkson at Metro Manila’s various rail lines.
Free LRT-2 rides for FIBA World Cup participants
In the event they do take that option, the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) is offering free rides from August 23 to September 12 for all World Cup accreditation pass holders...which include coaches, trainers, and yes, players. Check out the full list below.
- Athletes
- Coaches
- Delegates from other countries
- Organizing committee members
- Volunteers
- Safety and security personnel
- Accredited media
To avail themselves of free rides, they must show their FIBA Accreditation Pass to LRT-2 station or security personnel.
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Free LRT-1 rides for FIBA World Cup participants
UPDATE, August 25: The LRT-1 has now likewise announced free rides for World Cup participants from August 25 to September 12. The following may show their official FIBA World Cup ID to station personnel to avail themselves of free rides:
- Local organizing committee (LOC) members
- Official volunteers
- Accredited media
- FIBA safety and security personnel
- FIBA technical and participating teams
Free MRT-3 rides for FIBA World Cup participants
UPDATE, August 25: The MRT-3 is also offering free rides for World Cup participants from August 25 to September 10. As with the other rail lines, the following will be allowed to ride the train for free upon presenting their Accreditation Pass:
- Athletes
- Volunteers
- All other FIBA World Cup delegates
From the EDSA–Taft Avenue Station of LRT-1, there are jeepneys that go straight to SM Mall of Asia Arena, one of the World Cup venues for rounds held in the Philippines. Note that the LRT-1 route is currently limited to G. Puyat–FPJ, after a technical problem between the EDSA and Baclaran stations occurred on August 24. Rail management says the issue will take three days to fix.
Meanwhile, the Araneta Center–Cubao Stations of the LRT-2 and the MRT-3 provide access to Araneta Coliseum. Philippine Arena in Bulacan is the third and final World Cup venue in the country.
Gilas Pilipinas is playing at Philippine Arena on August 25 (versus Dominican Republic), and at Araneta Coliseum on August 27 and August 29 (versus Angola and Italy, respectively).
We’ve compiled all relevant traffic stories and guides below, and we’ll bring you more motoring news as we have it. For the latest sports news on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, our friends over at SPIN.ph has that covered.
FIBA World Cup 2023 traffic advisories:
- No number coding suspension on August 25 for FIBA Basketball World Cup opener
- MMDA to implement intermittent stops on EDSA, other roads for FIBA World Cup 2023
- Advisory: Access Points to Philippine Arena will be closed temporarily starting 5:30pm on August 25
- FIBA World Cup 2023: How to book a free bus ride to Philippine Arena on opening day
- Laban, Pilipinas: Expect heavy traffic, ready your Easytrip RFIDs for FIBA World Cup opener
- Roadwork, mall-wide sales banned along EDSA and select areas from August 17 to September 10
Guide to the FIBA World Cup 2023 venues:
- Attending an event at the Philippine Arena? Check out this transport and survival guide
- Sports fans, here’s a handy transport and survival guide to the SM Mall of Asia Arena
