LOS ANGELES – NBA commissioner David Stern yesterday opened the league’s doors to Filipino players interested in tryouts and welcomed the possibility of further cementing relations with the Philippines which he described as “one of our best markets.”

Stern, who is supervising his 25th Finals, said the presence of Solar broadcasters covering the Los Angeles-Boston series on-site for live satellite transmission to the Philippines is “always a pleasure” in acknowledging the Filipino’s passion for the game.

Deputy commissioner Adam Silver said he will suggest to NBA teams to send scouts to the Philippines to check out potential recruits. Silver previously visited Manila with NBA executive Heidi Ueberroth and broadcaster Ahmad Rashad and was impressed by the basketball IQ of Filipino fans.

Stern asked the Solar broadcasters who are the Filipino players now seeing action in US colleges, inferring that NBA scouts are always on the lookout for foreign prospects. He was told 6-9 Japeth Aguilar is enrolled at Western Kentucky University, an NCAA Division I school. Another Filipino, 6-9 Gian Chua, is playing at Oberlin College in Ohio.

“NBA teams have scouts all over and I’m sure they’re keeping an eye on outstanding players around the world, including the Philippines,” said Stern. “If there’s a talent in the Philippines, I’m certain by now the NBA scouts know about him.”

Silver said he’d like the next foreign star in the NBA to be a Filipino.

“That’s what we’ve been waiting for,” he said. “I know how big basketball is in the Philippines and it would be fitting for the best Filipino player to be in the NBA.”

Stern was just as upbeat. “Bring them on,” he said. “We welcome the best Filipino players in the NBA.”

Regarding the Finals, Stern said the return of the legendary rivalry between the Lakers and Celtics has rekindled memories of the past but for the new generation of fans, it’s not about tradition but the fierce competition among today’s stars like Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce.

Stern said with Boston ahead 2-1 in the series, the title is up for grabs and wouldn’t predict an ending.

“As commissioner, I couldn’t tell you how I think this will end,” he said. “All I know is our TV ratings in the US are up. I still don’t know about the response overseas but I’m hoping the US trend is an indication.”

The TV coverage of the first two games of the NBA Finals rated 1-2 in the US last week, according to Nielsen Media Research. Game 2 was the most-watched program with 13.5 million viewers and Game 1 was second with 13.38 million. Viewership was 51 percent higher than last season. The two games were the only programs in double-digit millions, outdrawing popular series like CSI, House, Hell’s Kitchen, CSI New York, NCIS, CSI Miami, Rules of Engagement and Cold Case.

Silver said it’s too early to forecast a short or long series. The turning point is Game 4 this morning (Manila time) because if the Lakers win, there will definitely be a Game 6 in Boston but if the Celtics prevail, Boston could close it out in Game 5 at the Staples Center.

NBA international TV staffer Danijela Draganic said she will contact former NBA star Vlade Divac, now living in Madrid, and mention the possibility of taking a trip to Manila to scout Filipino players. Divac was the Lakers international scout in 2005-06 before he became Real Madrid’s head of basketball operations.

Divac, 40, played 16 years in the NBA and retired in 2006. He was recently in China to conduct clinics and check out potential NBA players.

Stern said this year’s Finals is “as good as it’s ever been.”

“We’re coming off what we think is one of the best seasons in years, exciting young stars, exciting little older stars, exciting international players, terrific race in the West, pretty good race in the East and surprising playoffs,” he said.

“We’ve had a great playoffs both ways (East and West). And No. 1 seeds, which is not uncommon, have made it through into the Finals. So the two teams with the best seeds are showing America what NBA basketball is all about coast to coast.”