Kawhi Leonard, NBA stars eager to experience Filipino culture

Jane Bracher

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It's the NBA Finals MVP's first trip to the Philippines - a country he's only heard from his shooting coach Chip Engelland

EXCITED. NBA Finals MVP Kawhi Leonard says he's excited to experience what the Philippines has to offer. Photo by Josh Albelda/Rappler

MANILA, Philippines – Some big names from the National Basketball Association (NBA) are more than excited to delve into Filipino culture as they visit Manila for PLDT’s Last Home Stand, a basketball charity event benifitting the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation.

Most of the 12-man cast of NBA stars have heard plenty about the Philippines’ love affair with basketball and are eager to experience the madness for themselves.

The 2014 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Kawhi Leonard, for one, heard stories first hand from someone he practices with everyday.

“I got a coach on the Spurs, he played on the (Philippine) national team so he told me a lot about the Philippines,” the 23-year old Leonard said during a press conference held on Monday, July 21 at the NBA Cafe at SM Aura in Taguig.

Leonard was referring to his shooting coach at the San Antonio Spurs, Chip Engelland, who played for the Philippine team as a naturalized player and in the PBA for the San Miguel Beermen from 1984 to 1986. He was part of the national team that seized the 1985 Jones Cup title.

“I wasn’t able to have a chance to see him compete against the USA national team when he played in about 1984 for the Philippines,” Leonard said before a packed crowd. “He just shared that experience with me, how many points he scored and just the culture with the fans.”

Still looking like his usual serious self, Leonard expressed his excitement over being in the Philppines for the first time.

“I heard good things about the Philippines.”

Meanwhile, fellow NBA players DeMar DeRozan and James Harden hope to add to their Filipino adventures in their return trip to the country.

“I was here a couple weeks ago and the fan support is definitely amazing,” said Toronto Raptors swingman DeRozan, who visited just recently for the NBA 3x.

He has already nailed down his favorite Filipino cuisine: adobo.

“It’s just fun to see all these faces and the energy is definitely great.”

Harden, on the other hand, is back in the country for the 4th time. He’s no stranger to the kind of fanfare basketball generates in these parts.

“I’ve been here a couple of times and these fans are amazing. They’re crazy over basketball and we’ve played a preseason game here with the Pacers last year and the crowd was amazing,” said the 6-foot-5 Houston Rockets guard. “It’s good to be back.”

Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard even compares Filipino hoops fans to Americans, saying the two countries’ love for the game is on the same level.

“Coming from the United States, I think we can appreciate the reception that we get here,” he said. “Just being able to see another culture of basketball and how you guys love the game just like we do. I’m excited to be here.”

The NBA players are set to engage and entertain Filipino fans through various activities from July 22 to July 23, which include a Kids Camp, three-point and slam dunk competitions, and a highly anticipated exhibition game against national team Gilas Pilipinas.

The scrimmage will serve as a test for the national squad set to compete in this year’s FIBA World Cup in Spain.

“It’s gonna be a big help to the national team to have the experience of playing against guys who are athletically gifted and as talented as they are,” remarked Gilas head coach Chot Reyes.

Reyes and Gilas will slug it out against Team Fibr All-Star at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on both dates. The All-Star team is comprised of Leonard, Harden, Lillard, DeRozan, Brandon Jennings, Ed Davis, Kyle Lowry, Nick Johnson, Terrence Ross, and Tyson Chandler. 

Related: Blake Griffin, Paul George out of Last Home Stand

“I think these guys’ committment to come over and participate makes it very special,” said John Lucas, a renowned US coach and former NBA point guard, who will man the sidelines for the All-Stars.

“It definitely is a chance to work with the national team and to give them a chance before they go and play their friendlies, and before they go competing in Spain.”

However, this trip isn’t just about a tune-up game.

Other beneficiaries of the charity event are Caritas Manila and the MVP Sports Foundation.

“This is also for the kids to learn values in life like how to share, how to be a part of a team and how to work with other people,” Lucas said of the real purpose of the event, citing specifically the basketball camp for kids. “It’s to help spread the message and to be ambassadors for the sport that we all love.” – Rappler.com

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