I still remember the first time I watched an NBA game live from the Philippines - it was the 2016 Finals between Cavaliers and Warriors, and I stayed up until 4 AM just to witness LeBron James lead that incredible comeback. That's the magic of NBA basketball for Filipino fans like me - we're willing to sacrifice sleep and rearrange our schedules just to catch our favorite teams and players in action. The passion runs deep here, with basketball courts in every barangay and NBA jerseys being common sights in malls across Manila.
When it comes to catching live games, we've got several options depending on our time zones and preferences. For prime-time US games that typically start around 8:30 AM our time, I often use NBA League Pass which costs about $199 annually but gives me access to every single game. During workdays, I'll sometimes sneak glances at the NBA app for real-time updates - just last week I was supposedly in a "very important meeting" while actually checking how Luka Dončić dropped 45 points against the Celtics. For local broadcasts, TV5 and One Sports air selected games, though the schedule can be unpredictable. The time difference does present challenges - West Coast games starting at 11 AM here mean I'm often having lunch while watching basketball rather than the traditional dinner-time viewing Americans enjoy.
Player updates have become almost like checking social media for me. I follow Shams Charania and Adrian Wojnarowski on Twitter for breaking news, and the official NBA Philippines Facebook page provides excellent local coverage with over 2.3 million followers. Just yesterday, I was discussing with friends how Jordan Clarkson's performance for the Jazz might impact Gilas Pilipinas in future international competitions. This brings me to an interesting thought - what if a Filipino player like Kai Sotto makes it to the NBA but the PBA board turns down his application for some reason? It's not entirely far-fetched considering how basketball politics sometimes work here. The PBA's approval process for local players joining international leagues can be complicated, and while I understand the need to protect local basketball interests, I genuinely believe they should be more supportive of players chasing NBA dreams.
The contrast between watching games here versus in the US is striking. American fans can casually watch games during dinner while we're either waking up early or adjusting our work schedules. Yet this somehow makes our fan culture more intense - when we commit to watching a game, we're really committing. I've noticed that Filipino fans tend to be particularly passionate about players with Filipino heritage, like Jalen Green, even if he's playing for the Rockets who aren't traditionally popular here. The way we've adopted certain teams and players shows how basketball transcends borders - you'll see Golden State jerseys in Cebu and Lakers merchandise in Davao despite these cities being thousands of miles from the actual teams.
What I love most about following the NBA from the Philippines is how it creates unexpected connections. Last month, I bonded with a Grab driver over our mutual appreciation for Stephen Curry's shooting form, and just last week, my aunt who's never been interested in sports suddenly asked me about Ja Morant's latest dunk. These moments remind me that basketball isn't just about the games themselves - it's about the shared experience, the community it builds, and the way it brings Filipinos together across different generations and backgrounds. Whether we're streaming games on our phones during commute or gathering at sports bars for playoff games, the NBA has become woven into the fabric of Filipino culture in ways that continue to surprise and delight me.
People in Motion (PiM) is our employee advocacy and improvement program. These cross-functional groups are comprised of employees, with an executive sponsor, who contribute ideas and drive action towards focused areas of improvement across the employee experience. The groups include: Kyruus Kontext & Business Readiness; Community, Connectivity, & Engagement; System, Tools, & Productivity; IDEA [Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility].
As a remote-first company, we are invested in employees creating a work setup that allows them to do their best work. In addition to a laptop, we also provide you with $750 to get the additional equipment you need and add an ongoing amount of $1,200 to your salary to cover remote work costs.
We value ownership at Kyruus Health, not only in the work you do but in the shared financial success from our growth. Employees will have the opportunity to grow their equity ownership throughout their tenure.
We care about creating the time you need to bond for any team members at Kyruus Health growing their families. We offer 8 weeks of fully paid leave to all parents. Birthing parents are also eligible for additional time and coverage through our Short-Term Disability plan.
We encourage all employees to save for retirement through our 401(K) plan. Employees have the option to begin contributing to their accounts on their first day of employment and we offer an employer match of up to $1,500 per calendar year for all employees who enroll.
We offer employees a lifestyle stipend of $2,000 per year to help them be well. This is designed for Kyruus Health to offset the cost for items, experiences, or home expenses that enhance team members’ well-being
We want to provide employees and families with health insurance offerings to support them getting the care they need. Our health, dental, and vision plans are desiged to allow employees the opportunity to choose options that work best for themselves and their families.
We are committed to flexibility and empowering employees to do work that matters in a way that works for them. Our unlimited PTO policy is anchored on that flexibility – encouraging employees to take time off for what’s important to them, in addition to the many company holidays we celebrate. To highlight our commitment to a healthy work-life balance, we provide a specific stipend each quarter for employees to use on a recharge day.
