LeBron James Update: Thousands of Fans Camp For Three Days To See Four-Time NBA MVP

Basketball fans spent several nights outside a mall in the Philippines just to have a better chance of getting free tickets for the much-anticipated visit of Miami Heat star LeBron James in the country.

Thousands of Filipino basketball fans lined up and even camped for three days outside the Nike Park of the Bonifacio Global City, where tickets for James 'Manila Tour' were distributed.

"Fans don't need to buy from our store to get the tickets. They're free of charge," Nike Bonifacio Global City representative told the Philippine Star last week. "It's already beyond us what will they do to the tickets."

Though the tickets were given without a charge, a number of these were already sold online for as much as 1,500 pesos or $35 each.

James' upcoming visit in the basketball-crazy country is part of Nike Philippines' "Leave a Message" campaign that encourages young Filipino hoops fans to strive hard and reach their goals like the four-time NBA MVP.

According to the latest reports, James had already arrived Monday afternoon in the Philippines and is expected to draw thousands of basketball fans on Tuesday at Mall of Asia Arena.

James, who guided the Heat to its second straight NBA Championships, is one of the most popular sports personalities in a country that boasts stars such as eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, four-time division champ Nonito Donaire, and Heat's head coach Erik Spoelstra, whose mother is a full Filipino.