1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: I used to always come early for the games, and 2 00:00:05,680 --> 00:00:09,239 Speaker 1: there's ten thousand people there for our warm up. It's 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: a love affair. It's a love affair with the NBA. 4 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:17,760 Speaker 1: It's ingrained. I think from the cradle. You know, there's religion, 5 00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 1: there's politics, and there's basketball. It got to the point 6 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:26,479 Speaker 1: where Fizz and my other assistant, Chad Camra, were signing 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:33,120 Speaker 1: kids foreheads. My legacy was forty two years ago, but 8 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: these people act like it was yesterday. You had lunch 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: with him, yeah, but I wasn't able to eat. I 10 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,959 Speaker 1: was like, just like I had lunch, cat sat next 11 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:47,280 Speaker 1: to him. Hey, if we could be partial contributors to 12 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: being dreammakers, I'm all four. Picture a place where basketball 13 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 1: is everywhere, from the air you breathe, to soil beneath 14 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:03,480 Speaker 1: your feet, where people hoop anywhere and everywhere, from MBA 15 00:01:03,600 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: ready arenas to the middle of streets to the slopes 16 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: of active volcanoes, where the most common item in people's 17 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: wardrobes is a jersey, and the soundtrack to everyday life 18 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:18,680 Speaker 1: is a bouncing ball. This place, this hoops heaven, is 19 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:30,280 Speaker 1: the Philippines. Basketball where we're standing tallis when you travel 20 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: through the country You're guaranteed to see people outside shooting, 21 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:37,839 Speaker 1: driving and defending on dirt and concrete courts, and they're 22 00:01:37,840 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: playing either in bare feet or were just flip flops 23 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: or channellas on their feet. But for real, the Philippines 24 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: passion for basketball is off the charts. Don't take my 25 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 1: word for it, though. We asked Donna Reus, director of 26 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: Content and Media Distribution at MBA Asia, to bring us 27 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:58,440 Speaker 1: the numbers. We'll hear from Donna later in the episode 28 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:03,240 Speaker 1: of the population in the Philippines consider themselves NBA fans. 29 00:02:03,520 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: That's the largest person to JAMO in all countries, and 30 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 1: two thirds of households in the Philippines watched MBA coverage 31 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: last season. It's no surprise that basketball caught on in 32 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 1: the Philippines. Basketball is caught on almost everywhere but no 33 00:02:18,440 --> 00:02:21,679 Speaker 1: other country, and people have embraced the game the way 34 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 1: Filipinos have, where it's almost a national religion. Welcome to 35 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: hoops Paradise, the Philippines Love of the game. Brought to 36 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: you by iHeartRadio and the MBA pastable. What's up, everyone, 37 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,960 Speaker 1: I'm Cassidy Hubber. If you're a basketball fan, you may 38 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: know me from the NBA sidelines, where I'm a reporter 39 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: for ESPN and the host of the show Hoop Streams. 40 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: But what you might not know unless you're Filipino, in 41 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: which case you almost definitely know, is that I'm Filipino 42 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: American and that basketball is in my blood, not just 43 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: because it's a national obsession in the country where my 44 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: mother was born, but because I grew up playing around 45 00:03:04,320 --> 00:03:06,960 Speaker 1: the world with my dad in the driveway of our 46 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: home right outside of Chicago. My father's roots are Irish 47 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: and German, but his love for the game would be 48 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,080 Speaker 1: right at home in the Philippines. Even now, he just 49 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 1: turns seventy, and he still has a regular pickup run. 50 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: He spent a lifetime around American basketball, and so have I. 51 00:03:25,040 --> 00:03:26,800 Speaker 1: I've only gotten the chance to go back to the 52 00:03:26,800 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: Philippines with my mom twice. I've seen enough to know 53 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 1: that basketball is a huge deal in the Philippines, but 54 00:03:33,320 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: I don't know the country well enough to explain every 55 00:03:35,960 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: aspect of its roundball infatuation, at least not like someone 56 00:03:39,600 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 1: who grew up there could. Luckily, though, I'm taking this 57 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 1: journey with someone who did grow up in the Philippines, 58 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: and he understands the country's basketball jones about as well 59 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: as anyone on the planet. Nico, what a thanks, Cassidy. 60 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: I'm Nico Ramos, a sports broadcaster here in Manila, where 61 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: I used to have a job almost exactly like yours 62 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: during NBA games, only I was a reporter and then 63 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: the commentator for a professional league which is called, in 64 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: a very intentional nods for our American counterparts, the PBA 65 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 1: or Philippine Basketball Association. I played for a very small, 66 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: very bad college team, but I used to tell everybody 67 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: I was the only one who was going to make 68 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: it to the PBA. I was right, kind of Nico, 69 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: inside the lines or outside the lines, you made it. 70 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: And in this podcast, we want to explore the Philippines 71 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:36,000 Speaker 1: passion for the sport. How did a nation on the 72 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: other side of the world, from the YMCA Gymnasium in Springfield, Massachusetts, 73 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: where doctor James Naismith first hung a pair of peach 74 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: baskets and instructed his students to toss a leather ball 75 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 1: into the hoops, come to a door basketball Like almost 76 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 1: no other country on the planet. It's not like the 77 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,799 Speaker 1: Philippines is an international powerhouse unless you're at least fifty 78 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:00,960 Speaker 1: years old. The country has sent a team to the 79 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:05,440 Speaker 1: Olympic Basketball Tournament in your lifetime. It also hasn't produced 80 00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 1: a single homegrown NBA player ever yet, And well, we 81 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 1: might as well address the undersized elephant in the room. 82 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:21,160 Speaker 1: Filipinos usually aren't very tall. In fact, statistically speaking, we're 83 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:24,880 Speaker 1: among the shortest people in the world. National surveys have 84 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: repeatedly measured the average height of Filipino men at about 85 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 1: five foot four. You know, we're still on average not 86 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: at tall people. So we have to be kind of 87 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 1: creative to be successful on the court. That's Donna as 88 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,240 Speaker 1: director of Content and Needia Distribution at NBA Asia. So 89 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: I think that's kind of the hallmark of Filipino basketball 90 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: is that we're pretty good at, like being creative. I 91 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: like this word a couple of words, I guess. Like 92 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:56,320 Speaker 1: there's gulang, which literally means age in the basketball sense. 93 00:05:56,400 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 1: It sometimes can take on a negative connotation, but I 94 00:05:58,800 --> 00:06:01,920 Speaker 1: think for me means using your smarts to make up 95 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: for lack of like height or hef. But maybe a 96 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: better word is discarte, which I think kind of translates 97 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: to being strategic, but I guess it's the same thing 98 00:06:10,360 --> 00:06:12,840 Speaker 1: right to use. You're smart, to outsmart somebody and just 99 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: kind of working around your physical disadvantages. Now, Cassidy, let 100 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 1: me translate that for you, because Donna is though much 101 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:23,480 Speaker 1: more polite Filipino out of the three of us, All 102 00:06:23,520 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 1: of that really adds up to a grabbing of the risks. Yeah, 103 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: pulling on the jersey's, hugging on the opponent's shorts without 104 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:34,480 Speaker 1: the referee seeing scrap. All of that adds up to 105 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 1: gulang And you know, it's it's kind of it's kind 106 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: of this badge of honor that you kind of earn 107 00:06:40,680 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: when you're a young player. We all actually have these 108 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: moments when we remember someone older telling us I'm a 109 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: gulan ka, which means, oh, now you know how to play. 110 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:53,960 Speaker 1: Now you know how to play. I feel like I 111 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: need to start using that a little bit more here 112 00:06:56,240 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: in the States. And just like surprise people, I'm paper. 113 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: None of this adds up to the profile of a 114 00:07:03,040 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 1: country made up of one hundred million basketball junkies and 115 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,840 Speaker 1: NBA addicts. Yet the two times I visited family in 116 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: the Philippines with my mom, I've seen this sport everywhere 117 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: around me, pickup games on every street corner, NBA stars 118 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,760 Speaker 1: passed in present, smiling down at me from a twelve 119 00:07:20,800 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: story billboard, and live game broadcasts on TV from SunUp 120 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,840 Speaker 1: to sundown. When it comes to Filipino fans interest in 121 00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: NBA basketball, the numbers are mind blowing. On social media, 122 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,200 Speaker 1: the league's Facebook page has more than eight million followers 123 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: from the Philippines that ranks number two in the world, 124 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: above every country but the States. Last season, viewers from 125 00:07:45,240 --> 00:07:48,600 Speaker 1: the Philippines accounted for one third of the total hours 126 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:52,000 Speaker 1: watched on the NBA's YouTube channel. And for all those 127 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: critics who say the Dunk contest has lost its charm, 128 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:59,120 Speaker 1: don't bring that mess to Manila. Because Filipinos watched almost 129 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,640 Speaker 1: ten and a half million hours of MBA content last 130 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: All Star weekend, about twenty percent of all worldwide consumption. Well, 131 00:08:07,360 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: there's no stopping Filipinos from watching basketball, and watching a 132 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: lot of it. As they say. If you know, you know. 133 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: When I worked as editor in chief of Slam Philippines 134 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: and even now in my position as Senior brand director 135 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 1: for Titan, I spend a lot of time in meetings 136 00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: with basketball and sneaker executives from other countries and Whenever 137 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: I start sharing stats about Filipino basketball obsession, or when 138 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,319 Speaker 1: I tell them stories about teenagers practicing step back threes 139 00:08:35,360 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: and their flip flops, they can hardly believe what they're hearing. Basically, 140 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,120 Speaker 1: a big part of my job is to translate the 141 00:08:42,160 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: country's national obsession to the international brands we work with, 142 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: and to always be looking for ways to connect people 143 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: through the sport. So does that mean you could tell 144 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:54,200 Speaker 1: me what's going on with the Senator who has his 145 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: own signature shoe? I thought you'd never ask. But for 146 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:01,199 Speaker 1: the record, that wasn't us. Don't pin that on us. 147 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:05,480 Speaker 1: Titan was not the mastermind behind Senator Bong Goes twenty 148 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: eighteen three point King sneaker drop. That was a local 149 00:09:10,080 --> 00:09:14,280 Speaker 1: apparel company called World Balance and the shoe a white 150 00:09:14,280 --> 00:09:18,679 Speaker 1: and lime green low top with a mesh body. Yeah, 151 00:09:18,720 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 1: it was a real thing. And yes, before you ask, 152 00:09:21,360 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 1: the Senator Ken stroke it from way downtown. The sneaker 153 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: was a limited release of only five hundred pairs and 154 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,280 Speaker 1: they were mostly you know, created to drum a publicity 155 00:09:33,320 --> 00:09:36,959 Speaker 1: for Goes. Can I say it? But successful Senate campaign 156 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,120 Speaker 1: that year? All in all, yes, there's no denying they 157 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:44,240 Speaker 1: were real. Local influencers even did unboxing videos on YouTube 158 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:48,320 Speaker 1: comparing the three point Kings quote unquote, vibe and fit 159 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:52,360 Speaker 1: to the Nike KD Elevins. You gotta be the shoes. 160 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: And here I am still waiting for new balance to 161 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: come out with the Obama. Yes, we can mids the 162 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: intersection between basketball and politics in the Philippines. It's an amazing, 163 00:10:05,000 --> 00:10:08,640 Speaker 1: an often ridiculous way to illustrate how deeply the sport 164 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 1: is ingrained in Filipinos lives. All right, Cassidy, Now it's 165 00:10:14,480 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: my turn to ask the question. The times you did 166 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,959 Speaker 1: visit family here in the Philippines, what do you notice 167 00:10:20,000 --> 00:10:24,080 Speaker 1: about basketball in the country. Well, regretfully, I've only been 168 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: back twice. First time I was so little i can 169 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: barely remember it. The second time I was in college. 170 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: And Filipino Americans know how it goes when we come 171 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: home for a visit. Our families basically kidnap us from 172 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:39,840 Speaker 1: the moment we land in Manila till they return us 173 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 1: to the airport a few hours before the return flight. 174 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 1: So the entire trip we've been shuttle door to door 175 00:10:46,679 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: from the family home to the mall, to the restaurant 176 00:10:50,440 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 1: to the beach and then back. But I did spend 177 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: a lot of time in traffic gazing at my surroundings 178 00:10:57,800 --> 00:11:01,840 Speaker 1: from the backseat of my family car. And during those hours, 179 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:05,959 Speaker 1: even when I wasn't looking for it, I saw basketball everywhere. 180 00:11:06,679 --> 00:11:10,320 Speaker 1: There were vendors walking through the gridlock selling things you'd expect, 181 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: like water bottles and air fresheners, but also items that 182 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: seem completely useless in a traffic jam, like feather dusters, 183 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: toilet plungers, and yes, fully inflated, bright orange rubber basketballs. 184 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,160 Speaker 1: Are people really working on their handles while waiting at 185 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:30,480 Speaker 1: red lights? I mean smart, like get that handlework in 186 00:11:30,520 --> 00:11:33,440 Speaker 1: when you can. But other times I'd look out the 187 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,880 Speaker 1: window and see Magic Johnson's painted portrait staring right back 188 00:11:37,920 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 1: at me, along with Byron Scott, James Worthy, and the 189 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 1: rest of the Showtime Lakers starting five from the side 190 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:46,800 Speaker 1: of one of those public transport cheapneys. But what really 191 00:11:46,840 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: struck me were the basketball courts. Every corner had its 192 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:53,320 Speaker 1: own makeshift half court, and every town plaza had a 193 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: full court, complete with concrete bleachers, an aluminum roof, and 194 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: an electronic scoreboard. A lot of them look like they 195 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,880 Speaker 1: had fiberglass backboards and breakaway rims. You know how jealous 196 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,320 Speaker 1: I would have been of public courts like these during 197 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 1: the middle school heyday of my playing career. Yeah, that's 198 00:12:11,679 --> 00:12:14,880 Speaker 1: what makes the Philippines basketball heaven in a lot of ways. 199 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:17,160 Speaker 1: No matter how you connect with a sport, you're going 200 00:12:17,240 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: to find a court and more importantly, a level to 201 00:12:20,000 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: play at. If you're elite, you're gonna gravitate towards the 202 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: elite guys. Now, if you're like me and you just 203 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:27,920 Speaker 1: want to sweat once or twice a week, there's that 204 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:30,559 Speaker 1: group for you too. If you're just hanging out or 205 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: around your street and your flip flops, there's a half 206 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:36,560 Speaker 1: court there that you guys built on an electricity pole, 207 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,200 Speaker 1: and playing there means something to whether you live in 208 00:12:40,280 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: a city or in the province, those courts are centers 209 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:47,360 Speaker 1: of community life. Sometimes it feels even stronger in the 210 00:12:47,360 --> 00:12:51,480 Speaker 1: most rural areas, where the basketball court serves so many functions. 211 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: It's the open space where farmers lay down their rice 212 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: crops out to dry. It's the banquet hall where the 213 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: town holds beauty pageants and talent shows and six am 214 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: zoomba classes. It's the evacuation center when it's hyphoon threatens 215 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:10,200 Speaker 1: people's homes, and it's the spot where local governments administer 216 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 1: public health programs like vaccination campaigns, and yes, even summertime 217 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: community circumctition events. Don't ask. It's all in the basketball court. 218 00:13:20,760 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: And I haven't even mentioned the basketball that's played there yet. 219 00:13:24,200 --> 00:13:27,160 Speaker 1: Like I've been lucky enough to play basketball all around 220 00:13:27,160 --> 00:13:32,120 Speaker 1: the world, I played terrible Division three college basketball here 221 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: in the Philippines, and to this day, the best feeling 222 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:38,320 Speaker 1: I've ever had while playing the game wasn't when I 223 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:41,599 Speaker 1: shared the court with Kevin Durant or Blake Griffin or 224 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,240 Speaker 1: sneaker launch runs. He drops something, Oh yeah, no, yeah, 225 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 1: just should I double click on some details because that 226 00:13:51,160 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: time I played with KD he was just talking trash 227 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,840 Speaker 1: at me because I airballed the jumper. He remembers me 228 00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: to this day as Manila No jumper. Yes, he still 229 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: calls me that I'm bringing that up next time I 230 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,080 Speaker 1: see him at shoot around. And Blake Griffin once passed 231 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 1: the ball to me and I shot at three and 232 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: it went in and I told him to please tell 233 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: KDE and he said, that's really weird. So while I 234 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: name drop the details, though, aren't something I'm really eager 235 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: to share. As I was saying, it's not when playing 236 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 1: with those guys that I felt the best. It was 237 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: on the court. Right down the street from my house 238 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: in Marquina City, there was this one special summer where 239 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:36,080 Speaker 1: our neighborhood, which consists of three streets, was split into 240 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: four teams, and the only rule was brothers and dads 241 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:43,160 Speaker 1: can't play on the same team. We have to split 242 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,280 Speaker 1: it off so that everyone makes friends with everybody. So 243 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:49,360 Speaker 1: in the finals, my dad was coaching his team and 244 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,560 Speaker 1: I was playing for mine. He was heckling me the 245 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 1: entire game. So when I hit a big three pointer 246 00:14:56,360 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter, that really pissed him off. To 247 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:02,280 Speaker 1: this day, that's my favorite basketball memory because seeing my 248 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,040 Speaker 1: dad not knowing if he was supposed to be proud 249 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: of me or if he was supposed to be mad 250 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: because he was losing. It's priceless. Favorite basketball memory. Yeah, 251 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,640 Speaker 1: because me and my two brothers were talking smack to 252 00:15:15,720 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: my dad everyone like, that's what you get for not 253 00:15:18,280 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: betting on one of us. It's true, talk about tough love. 254 00:15:22,240 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: My mom was there upset because everybody was late for 255 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: dinner and that double that she had made was getting cold, 256 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,040 Speaker 1: and she didn't go there to watch. She just went 257 00:15:30,040 --> 00:15:31,800 Speaker 1: there and crossed the street to tell the four of 258 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:36,160 Speaker 1: us to go home. Incredible. To this day, and this 259 00:15:36,240 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: is no exaggeration, I still have people from that neighborhood 260 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: come up to me and say, I was there when 261 00:15:41,520 --> 00:15:44,360 Speaker 1: you hit that shot and your dad got pissed off. 262 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: Everybody in the country has a story like that. The 263 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 1: game is tied to our most cherished memories, the unforgettable 264 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: moments shared with our whole communities. And even if those 265 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: moments didn't come in a basketball game, they for sure 266 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: happened on a basketball court. Yeah, in Tenement, the one 267 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,760 Speaker 1: important place. He's the basketball court. You know why. The 268 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:12,280 Speaker 1: camaraderie there, the family itself, it's built there. That was 269 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: coach Eddie Barboena describing the similar connection his community has 270 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: with their central basketball court. Only their court and their 271 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: community is unlike any other in the Philippines. It's the 272 00:16:24,560 --> 00:16:29,400 Speaker 1: only street court in the nation that Jordan Clarkson, Paul George, 273 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:34,000 Speaker 1: and Lebron James have made round ball pilgrimages too, a 274 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: place so special that Lebron left a cement imprint of 275 00:16:37,120 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: his hand behind to mark his visit. That place is 276 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 1: located into gig one of these seventeen cities that make 277 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 1: up Metro Manila, and that famous blacktop court is named Tenement, 278 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: after the housing structure that surrounds it. So I'm a 279 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,680 Speaker 1: trainer coach here they just may see how to help people. 280 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:03,120 Speaker 1: The Tenement was built on nineteen sixty two President just Oo. 281 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: This building was condemned, but the japan Engineering c and 282 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,320 Speaker 1: test our building here. It lasts more than fifteen years. 283 00:17:16,080 --> 00:17:20,080 Speaker 1: They said that this place is not safe, but they're wrong. 284 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:24,320 Speaker 1: This place is so much love. Where we come back, 285 00:17:24,560 --> 00:17:38,439 Speaker 1: it's time for a quick ta gala Clesson Cassidy. I 286 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:41,000 Speaker 1: don't mean to put you on the spot, but how's 287 00:17:41,000 --> 00:17:45,000 Speaker 1: your tag? Um? Look, this is not like I still 288 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:47,679 Speaker 1: hold this against my mom or my Lola, who you 289 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,920 Speaker 1: know both were in the household. I was my whole 290 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,920 Speaker 1: entire life raising me um. But they didn't teach me 291 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,679 Speaker 1: to galog. That's okay. I know a few words, and 292 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:59,720 Speaker 1: you I know a few phrases like I'm not cool 293 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: or you know massa rop and uh yepital and you 294 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,400 Speaker 1: know I can. I can say a few things, but 295 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: not as much as I want to and I still 296 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:16,560 Speaker 1: need to. You know, I still hold that against my mom. 297 00:18:16,640 --> 00:18:19,800 Speaker 1: It's their fault. It's completely on that. But look, it's 298 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:21,920 Speaker 1: not a problem that the gout a lesson have got 299 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: here for you. Isn't something you would have learned in 300 00:18:24,119 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: college courses or Rosetta Stone. We're pretty much anywhere outside 301 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:31,639 Speaker 1: of the Philippines among nineties era NBA fans. And I 302 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:34,320 Speaker 1: can't even blame this on your mom or your lola, 303 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,120 Speaker 1: because you had to be a basketball fan to really 304 00:18:37,160 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: know this. Now, when I bring up the greatest pick 305 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: and roll duos of the nineties era, who are the 306 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,879 Speaker 1: first two players who come to mind? Quick? Can't you 307 00:18:49,000 --> 00:18:53,600 Speaker 1: watched your hometown Chicago Bulls beat them in the finals twice? Oh, 308 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,760 Speaker 1: easy work? John Stockton and Karl Malone? Right? Perfect? And 309 00:18:57,840 --> 00:19:00,399 Speaker 1: do you remember how the great and be on NBC 310 00:19:00,560 --> 00:19:03,560 Speaker 1: announcer Marv Albert would call their plays together back then? 311 00:19:06,119 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: Stockton to Malone Bengo. Well, in Filipino, the version of 312 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 1: expanded Tagalog that serves as the Philippines national language, the 313 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:19,919 Speaker 1: same exact sounds, that combination of phonetics they happen to 314 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:26,000 Speaker 1: form the sentence Stockton to Malone, which means Stockton jump 315 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: and every time the mailman delivered on a Stockton assist 316 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: in those years, it was like Marv and millions of 317 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:37,520 Speaker 1: Filipino NBA fans we're sharing an inside joke only we 318 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:41,359 Speaker 1: could understand. Oh wow, I feel the same kind of 319 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,479 Speaker 1: if you know, you know, connection with Filipino fans. I mean, 320 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: you know, while covering the NBA most of the time, 321 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:50,359 Speaker 1: will be at the big events that draw spectators from 322 00:19:50,400 --> 00:19:53,320 Speaker 1: all over the world, like All Star Weekend, Summer League, 323 00:19:53,440 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 1: or the NBA Finals, and I'll be walking down like 324 00:19:56,520 --> 00:19:59,600 Speaker 1: an arena hallway or spot a few fans sitting together 325 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:02,560 Speaker 1: in this hands and we'll just make eye contact. And 326 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 1: this is something you know that like I do just 327 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:09,000 Speaker 1: on a daily basis, I will make sure if I 328 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:12,760 Speaker 1: think you're a Filipino, I will say something Filipino. Often 329 00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:16,720 Speaker 1: I'm right, I'm like nine right, But specifically with NBA 330 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:19,800 Speaker 1: fans who come up to me during games or you know, 331 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: at NBA events, I will absolutely say Filipino and then 332 00:20:24,640 --> 00:20:29,960 Speaker 1: we would embrace and I would say Filipino, Filipino, Filipedo. 333 00:20:31,160 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: And by the way, they don't point at you then 334 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,320 Speaker 1: giveaways that it's not a head nod. No, it's it's 335 00:20:36,359 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 1: not a point. They kind of gesture their lips. Yes, 336 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,120 Speaker 1: because Filipino's talk with their face. Yeah, exactly over there, 337 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 1: well there. So when you see them talking to someone 338 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: whoever is next to them and then making that like 339 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:53,359 Speaker 1: kissing mark gesture at you, it's only to say you 340 00:20:53,359 --> 00:20:57,680 Speaker 1: see her, Cassidy. Yes, it's not creepy. Yeah, okay, creeped out. 341 00:20:58,280 --> 00:21:00,359 Speaker 1: And a lot of the time they'll stop me and 342 00:21:00,359 --> 00:21:03,320 Speaker 1: share a quick version of their own basketball love story 343 00:21:03,320 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: and then tell me how much it means to see 344 00:21:05,400 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: a fellow Filipino on screen during NBA games. I know 345 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,359 Speaker 1: you hate it every time. I tell you how important 346 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:15,040 Speaker 1: that is to so many people here to see you 347 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,880 Speaker 1: represent us so well. I mean a lot of the time, 348 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:21,639 Speaker 1: the country's basketball passion shines brightest when our love for 349 00:21:21,680 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: the game comes into contact with the oldest and best 350 00:21:24,960 --> 00:21:27,200 Speaker 1: pro league in the world. So to have you there, 351 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:32,600 Speaker 1: it's incredibly, incredibly a proud moment, NonStop for all Filipinos everywhere. 352 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:35,840 Speaker 1: We've also seen it up close when great players like 353 00:21:35,920 --> 00:21:40,200 Speaker 1: Lebron or Kde come through Manila during their offseason sneaker tours. 354 00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: When Kevin Durant visited Manila, he was greeted by chanting 355 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:49,280 Speaker 1: fans everywhere he went. It's a dream to look at 356 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:51,919 Speaker 1: man in the sea and didn't have Enos players here 357 00:21:51,960 --> 00:21:54,640 Speaker 1: with them. Man can't beat there. So you know, I'm 358 00:21:54,680 --> 00:21:56,919 Speaker 1: sure you'll see a future NBA player walking around here 359 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: at some point. I mean, a chance to see a 360 00:21:59,400 --> 00:22:03,200 Speaker 1: Finals MVP in the flesh, maybe even get close enough 361 00:22:03,240 --> 00:22:06,440 Speaker 1: to ask for an autograph, for a selfie. It becomes 362 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: almost like a religious experience, and the players feel it too. 363 00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: I mean, I remember any time Kobe Bryant would come 364 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: to the Philippines on a sneaker tour, the country would stop, 365 00:22:21,200 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: like everybody you knew would be at wherever it was. 366 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 1: It was rumored that Kolby would be. It was raining, 367 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 1: didn't matter, it was sun ten feet right over your head, 368 00:22:33,880 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: did it matter. You were only going to see a 369 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:40,800 Speaker 1: glimpse of Kobe through the glass, didn't matter. There were 370 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: thousands of people there just waiting to see him. The 371 00:22:44,280 --> 00:22:47,159 Speaker 1: love definitely goes both ways, Nico. I remember back in 372 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:50,880 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, after the Boston Celtics be Kobe 373 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: and won their first championship since the Larry bird days, 374 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,160 Speaker 1: the team celebrated by going to a Manny Pacil fight 375 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,119 Speaker 1: in Las Vegas, and then all of a sudden, after 376 00:23:00,240 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 1: Manny knocked out some poor guy named David Diaz, there 377 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:08,800 Speaker 1: was Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Sam Cassell, 378 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,520 Speaker 1: and Tony Allen partying in Manny's locker room, and you 379 00:23:12,560 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: couldn't tell who was more starstruck to meet the other. 380 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: I'm not sure Cage even knew, but before they went 381 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,280 Speaker 1: in there, Manny had been calling him his favorite player 382 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:26,200 Speaker 1: for years. Huge Man, huge Man. Just just what it is, Man, 383 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,800 Speaker 1: I'm a huge pac Man fans. While we're here, you 384 00:23:28,840 --> 00:23:31,000 Speaker 1: know that this guy has never asked for the picture 385 00:23:31,040 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: for anyone except you. He is your number one, the 386 00:23:37,680 --> 00:23:41,320 Speaker 1: Philippines greatest living champion at the time when he could 387 00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: almost literally do no wrong in the eyes of fellopen noise, 388 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:49,679 Speaker 1: engaging in some adorable cross cultural bromance with future NBA 389 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:52,480 Speaker 1: Hall of famers, with some of the best basketball players 390 00:23:52,520 --> 00:23:57,040 Speaker 1: on the planet looking up to our national sporting hero. 391 00:23:57,160 --> 00:24:00,840 Speaker 1: For Filipinos watching the scene unfold, it was like Manny 392 00:24:00,920 --> 00:24:05,879 Speaker 1: said a dream come true. Later on Manny's love for 393 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: KG and the Celtics wound up playing a factor in 394 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:12,280 Speaker 1: one of the most controversial fights they June twenty twelve, 395 00:24:12,320 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 1: lost to Timothy Bradley Junior that nobody watching the fight 396 00:24:15,440 --> 00:24:19,040 Speaker 1: seemed to see Manny losing. Rumors swirled after the bout 397 00:24:19,040 --> 00:24:22,840 Speaker 1: that Manny had angered the ringside judges by postponing his 398 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,120 Speaker 1: ring walk while he watched the Celtics play the Miami 399 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:29,920 Speaker 1: Heat in an Eastern Conference Finals game. I'm still I'm 400 00:24:29,960 --> 00:24:32,440 Speaker 1: still sour about that loss. By the way, I still 401 00:24:32,560 --> 00:24:36,320 Speaker 1: demand a recount same. I remember being so mad. I 402 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 1: think I was at a party that night watching on 403 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,239 Speaker 1: my phone and everyone was like, what is wrong with you? 404 00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:47,280 Speaker 1: Like this is just an atrocity. But I digress. Overall, 405 00:24:47,320 --> 00:24:50,560 Speaker 1: the way that Manny always wore his love for basketball 406 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:53,800 Speaker 1: and the NBA on his sleeve, launching his two handed 407 00:24:53,880 --> 00:24:57,000 Speaker 1: catapult of a jump shot in pickup games, his brief 408 00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:01,239 Speaker 1: and confusing foray into owning Code Chain and playing for 409 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:05,200 Speaker 1: his own PBA team, starting his own regional pro league 410 00:25:05,320 --> 00:25:09,080 Speaker 1: to provide opportunities for the surplus of Filipino basketball players 411 00:25:09,119 --> 00:25:13,400 Speaker 1: who aren't quite PBA caliber. It seems like another perfect 412 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:17,560 Speaker 1: example of how basketball touches just every Filipino in the world. 413 00:25:17,720 --> 00:25:21,120 Speaker 1: In some way you see basketball in the NBA's influence 414 00:25:21,160 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: on Manny's life. But really you see it wherever you 415 00:25:24,560 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 1: look in the Philippines, and the closer you look, the 416 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: more you see the sports imprint all around you. They're 417 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:34,240 Speaker 1: the painted portraits of NBA legends on the sides of 418 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 1: jeepneys that you mentioned earlier, often with images of the 419 00:25:37,560 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: driver's wife and children. On the hood. There are the 420 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:45,800 Speaker 1: court size murals of Lebron and Kobe that the artists 421 00:25:45,800 --> 00:25:48,880 Speaker 1: and activists of the Tenement community hand painted onto their 422 00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: home court. Coach Eddie Barbuena told us about the creation 423 00:25:52,119 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: of the famous Kobe mural on the Tenement court, the 424 00:25:55,119 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: mural of Kobe, Bryant and gig it's very tachi. When 425 00:26:01,680 --> 00:26:07,360 Speaker 1: that time happens, all the people gather all around the world. Actually, 426 00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:12,439 Speaker 1: the idea of putting the mural here in the famous 427 00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:16,680 Speaker 1: basketball for Tenement is the idea came from the Tenement 428 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:22,480 Speaker 1: Virtual Artists. We have our Tenement Virtual artist here and 429 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:27,440 Speaker 1: with cooperation and coordination with the Tahan and Association lead 430 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:32,200 Speaker 1: by our president Jennifer karpen So, the plan was so 431 00:26:32,280 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: fast they do the mural for respect and love to 432 00:26:38,560 --> 00:26:43,320 Speaker 1: the father and daughter Kobe and Gigi for three days. 433 00:26:43,359 --> 00:26:47,719 Speaker 1: They do it that for three days continuously, without a sleep. 434 00:26:48,200 --> 00:26:50,280 Speaker 1: There are the times you'll catch a glimpse of a 435 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:54,040 Speaker 1: tanker truck passing by and realize as its speeds out 436 00:26:54,080 --> 00:26:58,320 Speaker 1: of sight that it had a gigantic Michael Jordan Jumpman 437 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:01,840 Speaker 1: logo painted on the back. One of the most intimate 438 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:05,560 Speaker 1: examples of how deep the nation's love the NBA runs 439 00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:09,359 Speaker 1: comes from the number of Filipino parents who choose to 440 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:14,159 Speaker 1: give their children NBA inspired names. There's no way to 441 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:18,359 Speaker 1: tell exactly how many of the countries Kevin's or Allan's 442 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: were named after Garnette or Durant or Iverson, but I 443 00:27:23,359 --> 00:27:26,480 Speaker 1: promise you if we could interview each and every one 444 00:27:26,520 --> 00:27:29,360 Speaker 1: of them, you wouldn't believe how many of them would 445 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:34,159 Speaker 1: say they're named after an NBA Grede. Basically, if a 446 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:37,399 Speaker 1: newborn boy in the Philippines isn't named after a saint, 447 00:27:38,080 --> 00:27:40,560 Speaker 1: there's a good chance he'll be named after the next 448 00:27:40,640 --> 00:27:47,479 Speaker 1: holiest figure. An NBA legend. The sidestep moved by Scottie Thompson, 449 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:50,640 Speaker 1: Steve Nash Enriquez gets it to go because he did 450 00:27:50,640 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: have a depressive rookie year. He has a right spots 451 00:27:52,880 --> 00:27:55,400 Speaker 1: and now he's just looking to build on him. In 452 00:27:55,440 --> 00:27:58,159 Speaker 1: case you can't quite believe your ears, I'll slow it 453 00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:02,800 Speaker 1: down for you. That was Scotty Thompson, reigning MVP of 454 00:28:02,800 --> 00:28:06,600 Speaker 1: the PB eight, whose dad named him Scottie after Scottie Pippin. 455 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,399 Speaker 1: Then a couple of college players whose namesakes could not 456 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:16,080 Speaker 1: be any clearer, National University point guard Steve Nash Enriquez. 457 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:21,320 Speaker 1: By the way, Steve Nash and Riquez also have a 458 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:24,679 Speaker 1: massive ponytail, and he's like five foot eight on his 459 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: best day, which makes him the best player to cover. 460 00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:32,400 Speaker 1: I love him, man. I will say this. Though Irvin 461 00:28:32,520 --> 00:28:36,880 Speaker 1: Magic Ramos was my leading candidates to name my son, 462 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:40,320 Speaker 1: my wife would have none of it. We eventually named 463 00:28:40,400 --> 00:28:43,800 Speaker 1: him Tyler and depending on how Tyler Hero's career goes. 464 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: Oh is where al stand with the story Tyler Hero 465 00:28:48,800 --> 00:28:51,320 Speaker 1: becomes an MVP one day, I'll say my son was 466 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:52,880 Speaker 1: named after him, and then you just got it. But 467 00:28:52,920 --> 00:28:55,480 Speaker 1: you have to add Hero with the double R as 468 00:28:55,520 --> 00:28:57,600 Speaker 1: the middle name. You know that, right, I don't mind it. 469 00:28:57,800 --> 00:29:01,200 Speaker 1: Tyler Hero Ramos. I don't mind it into it. Actually, 470 00:29:01,760 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: it's amazing. All right. I think that's our cue to 471 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,320 Speaker 1: take a quick break. But when we come back, we're 472 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: traveling back to nineteen ninety eight. Jaw alone is coupled. 473 00:29:17,680 --> 00:29:24,400 Speaker 1: They shot out of it and stealing up Chicago seventeen seconds, 474 00:29:24,400 --> 00:29:30,880 Speaker 1: seventeen seconds from Game seven Orcal Championship number six. Jordan 475 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 1: open Chicago with the lane. Cassidy, you're from Chicago. I'm 476 00:29:37,480 --> 00:29:43,360 Speaker 1: guessing you recognize that sound. Recognize nineteen ninety eight, Salt 477 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:48,360 Speaker 1: Lake City. You talk, Michael Jordan, the shot, get off me, Brian, 478 00:29:48,520 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: even though people called you Byron, your name is Brian 479 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:55,720 Speaker 1: Russell Stockton. Why don't you tom alone yourself off this court? 480 00:29:56,240 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: MJ and the poll second three p. Twenty thousand, cry 481 00:30:00,240 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: jazz fans. I don't just recognize that sound. I don't 482 00:30:04,080 --> 00:30:07,840 Speaker 1: just appreciate that sound. I am that sound. I cherish 483 00:30:07,960 --> 00:30:12,640 Speaker 1: that sound. All right, Okay, Chicna go easy easy. We 484 00:30:12,760 --> 00:30:15,280 Speaker 1: all saw the push off, Yes, we all watched it. 485 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:19,719 Speaker 1: Do you remember where you watched MJ? Push off? Brian Russell, 486 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 1: I didn't see any push off. I don't know what 487 00:30:21,360 --> 00:30:24,360 Speaker 1: you're talking about, but I was in eighth grade around 488 00:30:24,400 --> 00:30:28,080 Speaker 1: then the time of the shot and only the shot. 489 00:30:28,800 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 1: I was home in my living room watching from the couch, 490 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: like we did every single Bowls playoff game back then, 491 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:40,080 Speaker 1: and my mom was screaming her absolute head off, like 492 00:30:40,160 --> 00:30:44,560 Speaker 1: shrieking every time every time a shot went up, and 493 00:30:44,680 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: I could hear her sometimes when I'd be taking the 494 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 1: dog out a walk two blocks down, just screaming Scotty. 495 00:30:53,680 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 1: She didn't even scream for Luke Longley, what are you doing, 496 00:30:58,280 --> 00:31:05,480 Speaker 1: b J? I had Mom calmed down, You're gonna blood pressure, Mom, 497 00:31:05,520 --> 00:31:09,200 Speaker 1: blood pressure. But that was that was our household. I mean, 498 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:14,120 Speaker 1: to grow up in the nineties during that era of 499 00:31:14,200 --> 00:31:18,240 Speaker 1: the NBA, I mean exactly why I am who I 500 00:31:18,320 --> 00:31:20,400 Speaker 1: am and how I ended up where I ended up. 501 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:25,520 Speaker 1: I feel like you're describing my mother with that exact 502 00:31:25,640 --> 00:31:32,640 Speaker 1: same tone and volume. Because the Philippines was thirteen hours 503 00:31:32,640 --> 00:31:35,520 Speaker 1: ahead of Eastern Standard time during that part of the year, 504 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,040 Speaker 1: so for me, it was Monday morning and it would 505 00:31:38,080 --> 00:31:43,000 Speaker 1: have been about maybe nine, almost ten years old. In 506 00:31:43,080 --> 00:31:45,920 Speaker 1: elementary school. I was at the sweet spot of just 507 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,840 Speaker 1: really beginning to understand basketball and blossoming as a fan. 508 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:53,600 Speaker 1: Because of Jordan and the Three Peats, everybody I knew 509 00:31:53,720 --> 00:31:57,800 Speaker 1: had Bulls Merch and only Bulls Merch for some reason, 510 00:31:58,040 --> 00:32:01,480 Speaker 1: like everyone had relatives in Chicago. Back then, it wasn't 511 00:32:01,520 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: so easy to watch NBA games on TV. There weren't 512 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: that many options for cable, and most of the games 513 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:11,600 Speaker 1: that we did see were incredibly delayed. The stories folks 514 00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:14,880 Speaker 1: tell about the NBA's dark ages in the seventies when 515 00:32:14,960 --> 00:32:17,960 Speaker 1: finals games weren't aired on live TV and came on 516 00:32:18,040 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 1: sometime in the middle of the night, after the news 517 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 1: or after the late night talk shows. We were still 518 00:32:23,840 --> 00:32:27,160 Speaker 1: living in that world at some point in the nineties. 519 00:32:27,560 --> 00:32:30,840 Speaker 1: But those limitations forces to get creative, and I remember 520 00:32:30,880 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: trying to follow note I say followed not watch that 521 00:32:34,520 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: game six between Chicago and Utah, and it became one 522 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:42,040 Speaker 1: of the great basketball experiences of my life. So at school, 523 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: much like many many other schools in the Philippines, we 524 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:49,160 Speaker 1: had what were called recess runners. So during the school day, 525 00:32:49,200 --> 00:32:51,719 Speaker 1: we had a recess period and one of the kids, 526 00:32:52,320 --> 00:32:55,480 Speaker 1: the runner, he'd sprint up to the pay phone to 527 00:32:55,560 --> 00:32:58,600 Speaker 1: call his cousin, his friend, or whoever it was they 528 00:32:58,680 --> 00:33:01,440 Speaker 1: knew that was wealthy enough or lived far away from 529 00:33:01,480 --> 00:33:04,800 Speaker 1: Manila enough sneak enough to have one of those bootlegs 530 00:33:04,840 --> 00:33:08,720 Speaker 1: satellites that provided a hazy feed of NBA games. The 531 00:33:08,800 --> 00:33:12,240 Speaker 1: runner would call his guy, ask for the score, what 532 00:33:12,320 --> 00:33:15,080 Speaker 1: was happening in the game, how many technicals did Dennis 533 00:33:15,160 --> 00:33:18,920 Speaker 1: Rodman have? What color his hair is? All that stuff? 534 00:33:18,960 --> 00:33:22,320 Speaker 1: And he'd come running one hundred meters back into the 535 00:33:22,360 --> 00:33:26,200 Speaker 1: canteen and yell into the entire student lounge where everybody 536 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:30,760 Speaker 1: would be their waiting. That morning of game six, the 537 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,479 Speaker 1: runner came back. He kind of messed up the story 538 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:36,920 Speaker 1: of that last play. It's like a classic literal game 539 00:33:36,960 --> 00:33:41,680 Speaker 1: of telephone because he came back sweat all over him, right, 540 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: he's gasping for breath, and he said Jordan pushed off. 541 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: He hit the game winner. Jordan pushed Russell the bulls win. 542 00:33:50,920 --> 00:33:54,360 Speaker 1: That may have been the last shot Michael Jordan will 543 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:58,080 Speaker 1: ever take in the NBA. What's Joan's left hand here 544 00:33:58,120 --> 00:34:03,240 Speaker 1: as he gives Russell the push. Referee can't see that. 545 00:34:03,240 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: That's the image we had in our minds, in our 546 00:34:06,240 --> 00:34:11,880 Speaker 1: minds as ten year olds. Michael Jordan assaulted Bryan Russell, 547 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: just physically hurt him. Because the guy on the phone 548 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:20,759 Speaker 1: told a recess runner that Jordan pushed Russell, and it 549 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,040 Speaker 1: was our only way of knowing what happened in the moment. 550 00:34:23,120 --> 00:34:26,280 Speaker 1: And it stayed like that in my mind for about 551 00:34:26,320 --> 00:34:30,000 Speaker 1: a month and a half before someone finally lent a 552 00:34:30,160 --> 00:34:33,360 Speaker 1: VHS recording of the game from the States. It was 553 00:34:33,400 --> 00:34:35,799 Speaker 1: a copy of a copy of a copy. And then 554 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:41,359 Speaker 1: I saw that, yes, MJ initiated some contact on that 555 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:44,160 Speaker 1: famous play, but it was more like a love tap 556 00:34:44,440 --> 00:34:47,359 Speaker 1: than the crazy shove that we had imagined in our mind. 557 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,560 Speaker 1: It was physical assault. You're telling me this all started. 558 00:34:50,600 --> 00:34:54,719 Speaker 1: All this talk about a push off started from a 559 00:34:54,760 --> 00:34:58,200 Speaker 1: bad game of telephone at your school. That's how this 560 00:34:58,560 --> 00:35:03,720 Speaker 1: push off on sense got started. Jay, I'm sorry, City 561 00:35:03,760 --> 00:35:07,439 Speaker 1: of Chicago. I'm sorry it was all because of one guy. 562 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:15,600 Speaker 1: Have won their sixth NBA championship and it's their second 563 00:35:15,719 --> 00:35:19,319 Speaker 1: three people. Looking back on it, though, I'm happy I 564 00:35:19,440 --> 00:35:22,759 Speaker 1: lived through those days before streaming and cable made it 565 00:35:22,880 --> 00:35:26,440 Speaker 1: so easy to follow the NBA games. I'm proud that 566 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:28,640 Speaker 1: I came of age during a time when we would 567 00:35:28,640 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 1: do literally anything to get a scrap of information about 568 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:35,000 Speaker 1: our favorite teams and players, cook up wild schemes just 569 00:35:35,120 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: to hear game updates. Where there's a will, there's a way, 570 00:35:39,040 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 1: And when it comes to the Filipinos craving for NBA basketball, 571 00:35:42,760 --> 00:35:46,120 Speaker 1: there's an entire world's worth of willpower coming out of 572 00:35:46,160 --> 00:35:50,279 Speaker 1: this small island nation. We asked Donna as if there 573 00:35:50,280 --> 00:35:53,840 Speaker 1: were any misconceptions about Pinoy basketball culture that she'd like 574 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:57,200 Speaker 1: to clear up. Maybe people just aren't aware. Maybe they've 575 00:35:57,239 --> 00:36:00,440 Speaker 1: seen photos or videos of these like makeshift courts. You know, 576 00:36:01,480 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 1: you know, all of that is absolutely true. You can 577 00:36:03,840 --> 00:36:07,359 Speaker 1: literally find like a makeshift in every neighborhood. But it's 578 00:36:07,360 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 1: just that it's not a passing hobby for a lot 579 00:36:09,800 --> 00:36:14,200 Speaker 1: of Filipino fans. It's actually what we're discovering and constantly 580 00:36:14,200 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: astounded by this is that Filipino fans are actually quite 581 00:36:17,200 --> 00:36:20,759 Speaker 1: sophisticated and knowledgeable about NBA basketball. So if you go 582 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 1: up to somebody who's like playing barefoot or in flip blop, 583 00:36:23,360 --> 00:36:25,920 Speaker 1: they actually know the nuances of the game, they know 584 00:36:25,960 --> 00:36:28,480 Speaker 1: the players, they know the history quite well. So that 585 00:36:28,600 --> 00:36:30,640 Speaker 1: might be a little bit surprising to people just how 586 00:36:30,800 --> 00:36:35,359 Speaker 1: again sophisticated and knowledgeable Filipino fans are. So much has 587 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:38,600 Speaker 1: changed over the last ten twenty years. I'm gonna kind 588 00:36:38,640 --> 00:36:41,600 Speaker 1: of date myself here by talking about a little bit 589 00:36:41,600 --> 00:36:44,400 Speaker 1: about this, but that's really kind of dictated by the 590 00:36:44,480 --> 00:36:47,640 Speaker 1: growing demand for for NBA content. So I guess if 591 00:36:47,680 --> 00:36:49,960 Speaker 1: you go back, like maybe the eighties or nineties, you 592 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:52,799 Speaker 1: really only watch games on a laid basis, you know, 593 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 1: trying to find ways to watch a game. There used 594 00:36:56,640 --> 00:36:59,879 Speaker 1: to be these two American military basis just north of Manila, 595 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,080 Speaker 1: and they had access to the Far East Network, which 596 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:06,560 Speaker 1: is guests the Armed Forces Network in the US, So 597 00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:08,360 Speaker 1: if you live close enough, you could pick up the 598 00:37:08,400 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: signal and be able to watch like American television, including 599 00:37:12,160 --> 00:37:15,440 Speaker 1: NBA games. And now, of course NBA fans in the 600 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:19,040 Speaker 1: Philippines can file the league and watch basketball with every 601 00:37:19,200 --> 00:37:23,120 Speaker 1: waking hour of their days thanks to International League Pass, 602 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:27,040 Speaker 1: domestic and international media coverage of the league, and cable 603 00:37:27,160 --> 00:37:30,279 Speaker 1: channels that run live NBA games in the morning and 604 00:37:30,400 --> 00:37:34,800 Speaker 1: replays at night. But they don't take that access for granted, Nope. 605 00:37:35,080 --> 00:37:39,080 Speaker 1: Filipinos are now among the most engaged NBA fans in 606 00:37:39,120 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 1: the world, and the league has taken notice. But I 607 00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:46,120 Speaker 1: think for the first real change really came about with 608 00:37:46,280 --> 00:37:49,359 Speaker 1: you know, obviously the advent of satellite technology and cable TV. 609 00:37:49,880 --> 00:37:52,879 Speaker 1: You know, it's more people you know, got PTV subscriptions. 610 00:37:53,600 --> 00:37:55,920 Speaker 1: We went from getting just a few delayed games per 611 00:37:55,960 --> 00:37:58,480 Speaker 1: week and now you have you know, live games daily. 612 00:37:58,600 --> 00:38:01,880 Speaker 1: So twenty ten we even launched a twenty four to 613 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:05,520 Speaker 1: seven NBA channel, which we still have today and we 614 00:38:05,560 --> 00:38:09,160 Speaker 1: air now about roughly eighteen games on TV per week. 615 00:38:09,360 --> 00:38:12,040 Speaker 1: The game is definitely evolved. A lot of it, I 616 00:38:12,080 --> 00:38:15,200 Speaker 1: think is it just exposure, not just the NBA basketball, 617 00:38:15,280 --> 00:38:19,160 Speaker 1: but like you know, international basketball, there's FIBA, you know, 618 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,760 Speaker 1: other professional leagues like the Year League that your Panby 619 00:38:21,840 --> 00:38:25,040 Speaker 1: League on Australian NBA. So if you watch like a 620 00:38:25,080 --> 00:38:27,680 Speaker 1: PBA or a UAP game now you'll see that influence 621 00:38:27,719 --> 00:38:30,440 Speaker 1: in their self play, you know. I think again the 622 00:38:30,480 --> 00:38:32,239 Speaker 1: game has changed a little bit and we're now playing 623 00:38:32,239 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 1: a little bit more above the rim, but like there's 624 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:36,360 Speaker 1: still a lot of play below the rim, so you 625 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:38,359 Speaker 1: can see a lot of that creativity and just trying 626 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:40,600 Speaker 1: to get to the basket and trying to make those shots. 627 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:46,600 Speaker 1: You should see the Donner s Ai cross. Nobody has 628 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:51,240 Speaker 1: seen it at this point. I think we've done about 629 00:38:51,280 --> 00:38:55,320 Speaker 1: all we can to illustrate just how widespread the Philippines 630 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 1: basketball obsession is, and how the country's love of the 631 00:38:58,920 --> 00:39:02,720 Speaker 1: game runs as deep as it can get. I imagine 632 00:39:02,719 --> 00:39:05,600 Speaker 1: that fifty four thousand people watching a basketball game, I 633 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,799 Speaker 1: mean the regular US NBA arena. It's like, you know, 634 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:12,200 Speaker 1: twenty twenty five, twenty three, You know, this is fifty 635 00:39:12,200 --> 00:39:15,919 Speaker 1: three thousand people. It's a love affair. It's a love 636 00:39:15,960 --> 00:39:20,400 Speaker 1: affair with the NBA. One part still feels like it's missing. 637 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:24,440 Speaker 1: Note we adore basketball, sure, but why what part of 638 00:39:24,480 --> 00:39:27,680 Speaker 1: our history turned the Philippines into a nation of hoop 639 00:39:27,719 --> 00:39:31,160 Speaker 1: heads rather than a country full of soccer or cricket 640 00:39:31,280 --> 00:39:35,480 Speaker 1: or baseball fans. Listen to episode two of Hoops Paradise, 641 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:38,960 Speaker 1: The Philippines Love of the Game to find out. Available 642 00:39:39,080 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 1: on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get 643 00:39:43,280 --> 00:39:44,080 Speaker 1: your podcasts.