The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Salmon have announced a multi-year marketing partnership that makes the financial technology company an Official Partner of the NBA in the Philippines.

The announcement was made on August 29 at NBA House Philippines 2026 presented by Gatorade in Makati City. NBA Head of Southeast Asia and Asia Marketing Sheila Rasu, NBA Asia Head of Growth and Innovation Ed Winkle, and Salmon Co-Founders George Chesakov, Pavel Fedorov, and Raffy Montemayor attended the announcement.

Bringing NBA experiences closer to fans

Through the partnership, Salmon will engage basketball fans through NBA-themed consumer promotions, fan events, and NBA-branded premiums.

Salmon will also have a presence at major NBA events in the Philippines. This includes serving as a Supporting Partner of NBA House Philippines 2026, a free basketball experience and fan event at SPACE in One Ayala on August 29 and 30.

Starting with the 2026-27 season, Salmon will also become the Presenting Partner of the NBA 3X Philippines Open. The tournament features men’s and women’s 3-on-3 teams alongside NBA entertainment.

“Basketball is a part of our daily lives as Filipinos, from the courts in our barangays to the TV screens in our homes,” said Salmon Co-Founder Raffy Montemayor.

Montemayor said the company wants Salmon to become a reliable partner for Filipinos’ everyday money moments. He added that working with the NBA gives the brand a way to connect with Filipinos through something they already love.

Rasu said Salmon shares the NBA’s commitment to using basketball to bring Filipinos together. She added that the partnership will create new touchpoints for fans through events such as NBA House and the NBA 3X Open.

NBA continues its PH presence

Filipino fans can watch NBA games through One Sports, RPTV, NBA TV Philippines, Disney+, Pilipinas Live, Prime Video, and NBA League Pass through the NBA App. The league also maintains localized social media accounts on Facebook, TikTok, and X.

The partnership comes as the NBA continues to deepen its presence in the Philippines, one of the league’s major basketball markets.

Salmon is a financial technology brand in the Philippines owned by Salmon Group. Its local operations include Salmon Bank (Rural Bank) Inc., a BSP-regulated entity, and Salmon Finance Inc., an SEC-licensed financing company.

The realme 16T 5G has officially launched in the Philippines. This midrange device is headlined by an 8,000mAh battery, 50MP main camera, and IP69 ruggedness.

Available in Aurora Green and Starlight Black, the realme 16T 5G is priced at:

• PhP 22,999 (8GB+128GB)
• PhP 24,999 (8GB+256GB)

But starting August 28, customers can get the lower-priced variant for as low as PhP 15,731.

At all official realme stores nationwide, customers who pre-order the realme 16T 5G from August 28 to September 3 and claim their reserved unit from September 4 to 15 can enjoy offers worth PhP 7,298.

Pre-order perks include:

• Free Laifen SE Lite Hair Dryer
• Free Privilege Card with 6-Month Extended Warranty and 6-Month Damage Protection
• Instant PhP 2,000 off

Meanwhile, customers who purchase the smartphone during the First Selling Period from September 4 to 15 can enjoy offers worth PhP 3,499, including an instant discount.

Furthermore, the device is available for flexible payment options via Home Credit (0% at up to 18 months).

More power, more moments

As previously teased, the realme 16T 5G comes with power and endurance designed to last for years. The 8,000mAh Titan Battery’s large battery capacity enables users to wield the device for up to two days on a single charge.

This battery also comes with a 7-Year Battery Health Guarantee, retaining at least 80% capacity even after being with the owner for years. When it is time to recharge, the battery supports 45W SUPERVOOC charging.

On its back is a 50MP Sony IMX852 main sensor, running on TÜV Rheinland-certified LumaColor IMAGE Algorithm. This is built for accurate skin tones and balanced exposure between subject and background.

The camera package’s standout feature is Vibe Master Mode, which gives shots a classic film camera look straight out of the app. Users can also switch to Pro mode and shoot in RAW DNG for extra editing room.

They can also tweak settings directly before pressing the shutter so captures would be ready for posting.

The realme 16T 5G also comes with NEXT AI imaging suite for quick AI-powered editing features. This suite includes AI Edit Genie 2.0, AI Perfect Shot, AI Eraser, AI Portrait Glow, and AI Instant Clip.

In front, the phone comes with a 6.8-inch 144Hz display with up to 1,200 nits of peka brightness. The phone also carries an IP69 Pro rating for water and dust protection, as well as Armor Shell and military-grade shock resistance.

Inchcape Philippines and Changan have mutually agreed not to renew their distribution partnership in the country. The companies announced the decision, citing Changan’s own long-term plans for the Philippine market as the reason.

The partnership enters a transition period that runs through Q4 2026. During this time, existing customer commitments remain in place, including aftersales support, warranty coverage, parts, and service.

Alex Hammett, Inchcape’s Managing Director for South Asia & Pacific, said Inchcape Philippines and Changan have worked together since 2023 to build the Changan brand locally, supported by Inchcape’s distribution network and dealer relationships.

He thanked the Inchcape Philippines team and dealer partners for their role in that effort over the past three years.

Inchcape says the Philippines remains a key market for the company. It continues to distribute Mercedes-Benz passenger cars, trucks, and buses, along with Jaguar Land Rover, and operates the retail business for Harley-Davidson locally. The company’s stated focus going forward is growing its existing portfolio and introducing new products to Filipino customers.

The Philippines also houses Inchcape’s Digital Delivery Centre and Global Business Services teams, which together employ more than 700 people supporting the company’s global operations.

Further details on arrangements after the transition period, including Changan’s next distribution partner, have not yet been announced.