Spaniard Fernando Verdasco spent Tuesday in Los Angeles conducting media interviews to promote the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, then watched three countrymen perform between the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors at STAPLES Center.

Verdasco watched countryman Pau Gasol, the Lakers' forward-center, score 12 points, grab seven rebounds and dish out five assists in leading the home team to a 117-108 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Post-game the Madrid native was invited behind the scenes to meet with the NBA stars, including countrymen Jose Calderon and Jorge Garbajosa of the Raptors, who chatted about life on the road, their friends in common, and the city of Los Angeles.

Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant also greeted Verdasco in fluent Spanish and wished him best of luck for the Pacific Life Open.

Earlier in the day, Verdasco met with U.S. Hispanic media within the Los Angeles area, including Hoy newspaper, the second largest daily Hispanic newspaper in Los Angeles. He also was interviewed by Pasajero Magazine, the in-flight publication for Aeropostal, with distribution in Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, the Caribbean and Miami.

On Wednesday morning, Verdasco was a guest on Telemundo's national sports TV program, "Titulares y Mas," with an interview by TV personality El Gordo Joel.

Verdasco has a first round bye as the No. 30 seed this week at the Pacific Life Open, and faces the winner between Romanian Victor Hanescu and Spaniard Albert Montanes. He could meet sixth seed Andy Roddick in the third round.