FROM the chanting and boos to the banners and posters, the Singapore Indoor Stadium resembled a sports venue in Manila when a record crowd (above) showed up for the historic basketball double-header on Sunday.

The 8,500 spectators were at their vocal best when two Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) teams - the Talk N Text Tropang Texters and the San Miguel Beermen - showed off their skills in a thriller.

It marked the first time a PBA regular-season game was played in Singapore.

The mainly Filipino crowd were clearly at home as they screamed themselves hoarse amid the background of advertisements and posters in Tagalog and lucky draws, which offered winners return tickets to the Philippines.

Said San Miguel fan Fenando Fernandez, 41: 'It was really exciting, and the atmosphere was almost the same as one gets back home, just that some of our stadiums are much larger.'

There were even louder screams and cheers when Filipino pop stars Andrea del Rosario and Gwen Garci performed at half-time.

The PBA match was followed by a Singapore Challenge Series game between the Singapore Slingers and the Smart Pampanga Buddies of the Philippines.

This game too attracted lots of cheers and jeers - all in good fun.

'The booing, the cheering, it all adds to the game,' said Filipino Gerry Pilorin, 41, who was there with his friends to cheer the Smart Pampanga Buddies on. 'There's usually a bit more emotion back home.'

The Texters beat the Beermen 85-80, while the Slingers won their match 100-72.