MANILA, Philippines – After landing in Manila on Sunday, July 19, as part of Nike’s promotional tour for Rise, Indiana Pacers star Paul George didn’t waste time engaging in pick-up games with die-hard Filipino basketball fans by quickly proceeding to the Barangay Western Bicutan Tenement Court.
Despite the old and stained structure, many Filipinos – kids, boys, girls, parents, and grandparents – packed the many levels of the buildings surrounding the basketball court just for an opportunity to watch the 25-year-old George in action as he had an impromptu shootaround and played some one-on-one with kids.
Talking about what that experience was like during a press conference at The House of Rise on Monday, July 20, the two-time NBA All-Star had nothing but complimentary words to share – even going as far as to say it’s an event he has to retell once he goes back home to the United States.
“It’s [my] first time witnessing something like that. It was almost like historic, like back in The Colosseum days where you’re walking down and people are all around at the top and you know they’re all there to watch the show that’s about to go down. You know you can just hear the kids, the shoes squeaking,” said George, who also spent time conducting drills and taking selfies with the many Pinoy kids.
“It was just energy right before I even stepped a foot on the court,” said George. “The energy I felt, on the walk to the court, I knew I was in for something crazy, and the game when they throw the ball up, it’s just crazy how everyone is involved in that whole ordeal. It was just really a great time – something that I have to tell many people back in the U.S. about. It’s a memory that I’ll always cherish.”
Most of the time, Filipinos are usually casted as underdogs in the international basketball stage due to what they lack in athleticism or height when compared to rivals from other countries.
But one cannot argue that basketball isn’t adored, cherished, or loved in the Philippines nonetheless. The bond between Filipinos and hoops is something George says he can relate to.
“They love the game, they love the game just like I love the game,” said the 2013 NBA Most Improved Player of the Year. “And it shows. It shows that they watch us very close. I’ve seen a lot of personality, a lot of flair. They had all the tricks. They had the shot-making, the dribble, the handle was crazy.”
George also said that, like him, Filipinos who are striving for a future in basketball must not be undermined by obstacles and limitations, and instead focus on just continuing to work hard every day.
“First they gotta think anything’s possible,” said George, who admitted that like many kids in the Philippines, he also used to play a lot basketball without shoes when he was young. “There’s no limit to nothing. And that’s something that I had to learn early; that if I put the work into it and if I really just put my mind to it, I got a chance to do something special.”
“And that’s what I want to share with them,” added George, who will unveil the House of Rise to the public on Monday night, including the 24 basketball talents discovered by the program from around the Philippines.
“Regardless of maybe, you know, a shorter guy, or can’t shoot well, can’t dribble the ball well. There’s a way to overcome that, and that’s what I’m here to help these guys with.”
Another aspect George promoted is to aim for the top. For him, his rise to stardom meant accepting there should be no acceptable middle ground between being a headliner and someone who was playing little to no minutes.
“I told myself it’s either I’ll be at the end of the bench, or I’ll be the star of this team. It was plain and simple. There wasn’t no Paul George is just average,” he said.
“Either I was going to be great, or I was going to be a terrible player. And that’s what I had to tell myself. It’s time to step up to the plate and be ready for whatever comes to me. Like Kobe [Bryant] says, I had to put my big boy pants on.”
George is scheduled to leave the country on Tuesday, July 21, making his second trip to Manila (his first was for the 2013 NBA Global Games) a short one.
But despite the limited time, he says he hopes to share as much NBA-level knowledge and help as he can to aspiring Filipinos – something he didn’t have access earlier in his life.
“My growing up and me playing young, I never had someone teach me in the NBA. So I thought it was pretty cool and unique that I had that opportunity to give back to these kids,” said George, who is looking to bounce back after missing out most of the last NBA season with a broken leg.
“But I just want to be here for the guys. I’m here for a short time, but I want them to get the most out of me. So whatever it takes, I’m here for them.”
– Rappler.com
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