1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: I think people literally pray for this, and of course 2 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,320 Speaker 1: they do. I mean, look at the I mean the DNA, 3 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: and I'll move to the science as well as the 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: spirit of this. Like the DNA of the Filipino right, 5 00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,640 Speaker 1: it is defiant. It is so defiant in the face 6 00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:23,760 Speaker 1: of a basic fact that says this sport is not 7 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:31,840 Speaker 1: for you. This is our final episode and we want 8 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: to look into the future and ask what it will 9 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: take for the Philippines to develop the player who will 10 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: eventually make the dream come true. The country, with what 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,400 Speaker 1: I believe are the most passionate basketball fans in the world, 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: can't wait much longer for it. But the good news 13 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:51,560 Speaker 1: is I don't think they'll have to. Thanks to everyone 14 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: for listening throughout the series and for sharing the love 15 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: of the game that exists in the Philippines like no 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: other place in this world. Welcome to Episode six of 17 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: Hoops Paradise. The Philippines love up the game basketball basketball. 18 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: Archell stand Nico. I hate to say it, but disappointed 19 00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:24,600 Speaker 1: in you. Whoa whoa whoa me? What did I do? 20 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: It's just that if you believed in yourself like I 21 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: believe in you, I think the Philippines could have already 22 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,120 Speaker 1: had that elusive first born and raised NBA player that 23 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: the entire nation's been waiting decades to see. Well, well, well, 24 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,319 Speaker 1: you know when I watched the league these days, I 25 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: can't tell you how often I find myself sitting there 26 00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: watching just the absolutely dominant play of so many, so 27 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: many five foot nine and three quarter inch guards who've 28 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: lost a step and maybe never even had anything to 29 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: deserve to be called a step to begin with, and thinking, wow, 30 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,960 Speaker 1: I really am the prototype for the modern NBA. Fully, 31 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 1: I had you around to push me to greatness when 32 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: I was just a little bit younger. It's what I do. 33 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 1: But seriously, though, Nico, I'm curious why you think the Philippines, 34 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:15,679 Speaker 1: a country of more than one hundred million people where 35 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:19,960 Speaker 1: basketball is the unrivaled number one sport, hasn't produced an 36 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 1: NBA player yet. I mean, before we get there, let's 37 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 1: look at the history of NBA players from East Asian 38 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: nations and remember that any single kids' chances of being 39 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: one of the four hundred and fifty players on an 40 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: active NBA roster at any given time they're tiny, no 41 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: matter where you're born, true, true, I mean, despite the 42 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: NBA's growth, and popularity in the region. East Asia is 43 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:47,640 Speaker 1: still in its developmental stages as a potential source for 44 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,960 Speaker 1: NBA talent. I mean, only ten players in history have 45 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,160 Speaker 1: grown up in the region and then made it to 46 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 1: the league, six from China, three from Japan, and one 47 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,680 Speaker 1: from South Korea, and Southeast Asia has yet to produce 48 00:02:59,720 --> 00:03:03,240 Speaker 1: an b A player. There have been several more NBA 49 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: players of Asian descent who were raised in the States, 50 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: like Jeremy Lynn, the pioneering Japanese American guard wat Missaka, 51 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 1: and the Filipino Americans Raymond Townsend, Jordan Clarkson, and Jalen Green. 52 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: Of those ten East Asian players, only Yalming, the former 53 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,560 Speaker 1: Houston Rockets center who was inducted into the Naysmith Memorial 54 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,760 Speaker 1: Basketball Hall of Fame in twenty sixteen, made an MBA 55 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: All Star team. Eight of them if you're keeping count, 56 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: sure we're in the Wariam Shark. Others like Jan Lyon 57 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: and Wang Gigi, had long, significant careers in the NBA 58 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: but never quite broke through among the league's best players. 59 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: Japanese forwards Rui Hachimura of the Washington Wizards and Utawatanabe 60 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:00,440 Speaker 1: of the Brooklyn Nets are off to promising starts in 61 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: their careers, but they don't project to be future All Stars. 62 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: So basically, even the most powerful and well resourced nations 63 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,720 Speaker 1: in the Philippines global Neck of the Woods have been 64 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 1: slower to produce NBA talent as rapidly as other continents 65 00:04:14,520 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: outside of North America, like Europe, Africa, and Australia. And 66 00:04:19,520 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 1: that's fine as basketball fans, or sports fans in general, 67 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: or just plain old human beings for that matter, But 68 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:27,880 Speaker 1: we don't have to treat everything like the metal count 69 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: at an Olympic Games. But here in the Philippines, the 70 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 1: elephant in the room when it comes to why the 71 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:37,839 Speaker 1: nation hasn't produced an NBA player yet has always been hyped. 72 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: I remember in episode four what coach Dick Mada said 73 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: in nineteen seventy nine after his Washington Bullets beat a 74 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: team of PBA All Stars in the first ever exhibition 75 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 1: game between NBA players and Filipino pros held on Philippine soil. 76 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 1: Good big men will surely beat good little men, but 77 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: come on, that can't be the whole story. The fact 78 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,160 Speaker 1: that Filipinos on average are among the shortest people in 79 00:05:02,200 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 1: the world is a major factor but there's got to 80 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:08,320 Speaker 1: be more to it than that. Absolutely, and each next 81 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 1: generation of PBA players seems to be blessed with a 82 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: little bit more height than the last. But height will 83 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: probably always be a limiting factor in the country's ability 84 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,839 Speaker 1: to develop NBA talent. But there's an interesting wrinkle to 85 00:05:20,880 --> 00:05:24,640 Speaker 1: that idea. Filipinos have always been among the best short 86 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: basketball players in the world in the PBA. When imports 87 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: with NBA experience are asked if they see any local 88 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:33,480 Speaker 1: players who might have what it takes to compete at 89 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: the highest level, they often say yes, the best PBA 90 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,240 Speaker 1: guards are up there with the best of them in 91 00:05:39,320 --> 00:05:43,960 Speaker 1: terms of raw talent, skill development, and shot making ability. Now, 92 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 1: I'm sure those imports know it'll be good for their 93 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: PBA careers if they engage in a little bit of 94 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: flattery when it comes to complimenting the local talent. But 95 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 1: we've heard it enough times from enough different players to 96 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: believe that there's really some truth to the idea. Of course, 97 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:02,799 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean that you can pluck legendary Filipino guard 98 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:05,559 Speaker 1: out of the PBA, drop him into an NBA roster, 99 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: and he'll be ready to contribute what those imports are 100 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:12,400 Speaker 1: saying is that if the most talented Philippine pros, regardless 101 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: of height, had an opportunity to start training for the 102 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,320 Speaker 1: NBA at a young age, they possess the rats tools 103 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: to get there. So what you're saying is that whoever 104 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: figures out how to unlock that potential and send a 105 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: Filipino to the NBA will basically become a national hero 106 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: and have their face put on one hundred pacel bill. 107 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:35,040 Speaker 1: But how come nobody's cracked that code yet? One factor 108 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: that I think gets overlooked is how when it comes 109 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:40,640 Speaker 1: to giving our local talent the time and space to 110 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:44,720 Speaker 1: reach their full athletic potential, the Philippines passion for basketball 111 00:06:44,839 --> 00:06:48,200 Speaker 1: sometimes it goes too far and actually can become an 112 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: obstacle in a player's development. It's like an unintended consequence 113 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: of having such a strong local basketball culture, and it 114 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 1: can affect Filipino players in a few different ways. For example, 115 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,039 Speaker 1: how about those great homegrown talents who win multiple PBA 116 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: Most Valuable Player awards and lead their teams to championship dynasties. 117 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,080 Speaker 1: Is it really worth it to them to leave the 118 00:07:10,080 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: Philippines and their prime of their hall of fame? PBA 119 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 1: careers to chase an NBA dream. Maybe the dream isn't unreachable, 120 00:07:18,960 --> 00:07:21,360 Speaker 1: but it's still a long shot. And when you're already 121 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 1: established as an MVP level talent in one of the 122 00:07:24,160 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: world's true hotbeds of basketball fandom, I guess it's hard 123 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: to walk away from the security and the wealth you've 124 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,400 Speaker 1: already built in your home country. Take June Mar Fahardo, 125 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: the best Filipino player of the past decade. Beginning in 126 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: twenty fourteen, the six foot tenh center won six straight 127 00:07:42,040 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: six straight MVPs and made the Sun Miguel beer Man 128 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:50,040 Speaker 1: nearly unbeatable in an all Filipino conference. When he retires, 129 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: he'll probably be remembered as the greatest player in the 130 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:57,040 Speaker 1: history of Philippine basketball. June Mar's game was never tailor 131 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,560 Speaker 1: made for the modern NBA. He's an overpower, low post 132 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: scorer with soft hands, can vacuum up rebounds, and pretty 133 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: much guarantee two points anytime he catches the ball in 134 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: the paint. But even though he wasn't the exact type 135 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 1: of player NBA teams looked for early in his career, 136 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,520 Speaker 1: NBA scouts saw how hard June maran the floor his 137 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:19,840 Speaker 1: natural finishing instincts and the impact he had on games, 138 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:22,559 Speaker 1: and a couple of franchises suggested he joined a summer 139 00:08:22,640 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: league roster just to see how it might go. Maybe 140 00:08:25,800 --> 00:08:28,640 Speaker 1: he'd be a learning experience, maybe it opened the door 141 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 1: to something bigger. He said no thanks, and he was 142 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: probably thinking no way. He was already living the dream 143 00:08:36,160 --> 00:08:39,760 Speaker 1: as a multiple time MVP in the league he grew 144 00:08:39,920 --> 00:08:43,880 Speaker 1: up dreaming of playing in. If it ain't broke, don't 145 00:08:43,920 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: fix it. Yeah. I mean, it's hard to argue with that, 146 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:49,320 Speaker 1: who leaves in Hall of Fame career for what would 147 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,839 Speaker 1: be a still long shot chance at cracking an NBA roster. 148 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,160 Speaker 1: But even the players who've tried and not quite made 149 00:08:56,200 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: it to the NBA have accomplished something. I know. There've 150 00:08:59,240 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: been a number of players from the Philippines who at 151 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: least dipped a toe in those waters, exploring chances to 152 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: play high school or college ball in the States and 153 00:09:07,520 --> 00:09:10,280 Speaker 1: then maybe reach the NBA that way. And it seems 154 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: like each time a new player takes the leap, he 155 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: gets a little bit closer than his predecessors did. When 156 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,679 Speaker 1: someone finally breaks through, it'll be because of the other 157 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: Filipino NBA hopefuls who blaze the trail before him. In 158 00:09:24,080 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 1: two thousand and seven in athletics, six foot nine four 159 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:31,880 Speaker 1: named Jopeth Aguilar transferred from the Philippine College hoops powerhouse 160 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: Attaneo de Manila University to NCA Division one College Hoops 161 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,920 Speaker 1: at Western Kentucky, where he was teammates with future NBA 162 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: guard Courtney Lee, But injuries limited jobhets playing time there, 163 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,000 Speaker 1: and eventually he found his way back to a sterling 164 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: career in the PBA. Kobe Paras, a six foot six 165 00:09:51,040 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: guard who showed early flashes of brilliant talent and explosive 166 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 1: hops in Manila high school tournaments, moved to Los Angeles 167 00:09:58,120 --> 00:10:01,559 Speaker 1: in twenty thirteen to finish his high school career in California. 168 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:04,000 Speaker 1: He was on the right track, putting up big numbers 169 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: against strong competition in earning D one scholarship offers, first 170 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: from UCLA and then at Crayton. But Kobe, the son 171 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 1: of former PBA MVP turn comedic actor Benji Paras, struggled 172 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: to find a role at the college level and returned 173 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:22,160 Speaker 1: home to finish his amateur career at the University of 174 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 1: the Philippines. He since turned pro and now plays as 175 00:10:25,760 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 1: an import in the Japanese B League. And then in 176 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen, Bobby Ray Parks Junior, the son of legendary 177 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: PBA import Bobby Parks, tried to make the jump to 178 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,560 Speaker 1: the NBA level after playing college ball in the Philippines. 179 00:10:39,800 --> 00:10:42,719 Speaker 1: He went undrafted in the twenty fifteen NBA draft, but 180 00:10:42,800 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: showed enough promise in pre draft workouts that the Dallas 181 00:10:46,040 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: Mavericks added him to their Summer League roster and then 182 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: signed him to play a season in the G League 183 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: with the Texas Legends. Both of those accomplishments made history 184 00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:58,840 Speaker 1: the first born and raised Filipino to play in Summer 185 00:10:58,920 --> 00:11:02,199 Speaker 1: League and to make a G League roster, and that 186 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:05,000 Speaker 1: brings us to the seven foot two twenty year old 187 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 1: center Kai Soto. I started playing basketball because of mostly 188 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 1: of my dad, because he played professionally in the Philippines. 189 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,640 Speaker 1: I'm from a city of Laskina City. It's a city 190 00:11:15,679 --> 00:11:18,439 Speaker 1: in the Philippines, in Manila. The culture of basketball and 191 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:22,560 Speaker 1: Philippines is just amazing. It's just it's like a religion. Now, 192 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,560 Speaker 1: in his second year as a professional with the Adelaide 193 00:11:25,559 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 1: thirty six ers of the Australian abl Kay went undrafted 194 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:32,480 Speaker 1: in last year's NBA draft, but he's still working to 195 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:35,679 Speaker 1: catch an MBA team's eye, and he still represents the 196 00:11:35,679 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: philippines best chance to achieve the NBA dream. Now, I 197 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,040 Speaker 1: promise I'm not bringing this up to torture you, but 198 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 1: can you give us a quick scouting profile? One more 199 00:11:57,440 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: time of the Cassidy hoverth who Once upon a time, 200 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:04,800 Speaker 1: I'm dominated middle school basketball competition up and down the 201 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,760 Speaker 1: North side of Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. What are 202 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: you doing? I mean, I'll play along because I trust you, Nico, 203 00:12:13,520 --> 00:12:17,840 Speaker 1: but this better be going somewhere. Okay. From sixth to 204 00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: eighth grade, I ran local basketball leagues, ran them, Okay. 205 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 1: I grew early, so I was already close to my 206 00:12:26,360 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: adult height, bigger than most of the girls I played 207 00:12:28,720 --> 00:12:32,520 Speaker 1: against back then. I was athletic enough, I was coordinated enough, 208 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:36,600 Speaker 1: I was competitive enough, and I just out hustled people 209 00:12:36,600 --> 00:12:40,000 Speaker 1: and scraped my way to back to back to back 210 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:44,920 Speaker 1: MVPs three three of them things. And I wasn't the 211 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,960 Speaker 1: most skilled. But you know, like no one at middle 212 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:53,160 Speaker 1: school is so my tenacity one out three times. Basically, 213 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: you know, I was your classic undersize power forward who 214 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: peaked too early. Should have practiced more ball handling, mainly 215 00:13:00,559 --> 00:13:03,160 Speaker 1: my left and shooting skills instead of you know, my 216 00:13:03,240 --> 00:13:05,959 Speaker 1: baby shack drop step game in the low post, grab 217 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:09,040 Speaker 1: and rebounds like I'm Dennis Rodman, which you know, became 218 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: kind of useless as soon as I got to high 219 00:13:10,720 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: school and I stopped growing and couldn't overpower anyone else 220 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,520 Speaker 1: on the court anymore. And I mean, can I stop now? 221 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: Is that enough? I have enough regret that I live 222 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,640 Speaker 1: with day in and day out. Could that be a 223 00:13:22,679 --> 00:13:25,280 Speaker 1: whole episode? Can we just go off on a whole 224 00:13:25,320 --> 00:13:28,920 Speaker 1: episode just deep diving that talking to all the young 225 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,800 Speaker 1: girls that you dominate? It then perfect story though, it's 226 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: a perfect description. Work on your left, boys and girls. Yeah, 227 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:40,480 Speaker 1: I mean yeah, I think your experience as you moved 228 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: from middle school to high school it really helped illustrate 229 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 1: one of the challenges regarding skill development in Philippine basketball, 230 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 1: at least in terms of training a player for a 231 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:53,960 Speaker 1: potential NBA future. In middle school, you were successful with 232 00:13:54,000 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: a skill set that suddenly became less productive when you 233 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 1: made the leap up to the high school level and 234 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 1: found yourself competing against girls just as big or bigger 235 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:07,000 Speaker 1: than you. Once he lost that physical advantage, your game 236 00:14:07,080 --> 00:14:11,200 Speaker 1: wasn't three time MVP worthy anymore. Well. The lack of 237 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 1: overall height among Filipino players has historically left our prospects 238 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: in a similar bind when it came to making the 239 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: leap to higher levels of play, whether it's international competitions 240 00:14:21,960 --> 00:14:24,960 Speaker 1: like the Olympics or the Feeble World Cup, or even 241 00:14:25,000 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: the distant dream of the NBA. I mean, I was 242 00:14:27,280 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: over here crying, so I'm glad you brought it back 243 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,920 Speaker 1: because I see where you're going. So if you're an 244 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: athletic six foot four teenager in Manila, you're probably getting 245 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 1: more experience in a big man role than a perimeter player, 246 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: even though that height would still be small for an 247 00:14:42,080 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: MBA wing exactly. And even if that six four pinoy 248 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:50,160 Speaker 1: had the dexterity and lateral quickness to develop perimeter skills 249 00:14:50,160 --> 00:14:52,080 Speaker 1: that a player of his height would need to succeed 250 00:14:52,120 --> 00:14:54,920 Speaker 1: in the NBA or in Europe, he might not get 251 00:14:54,960 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: the opportunity to develop that side of his game enough 252 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: to make the leap to higher levels of play. The 253 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: talent could be there, but he might never get the 254 00:15:03,200 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: chance to nurture it. And what's he going to tell 255 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:07,880 Speaker 1: his high school coach who just sees that he's got 256 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,200 Speaker 1: the biggest kid on the floor and his team and 257 00:15:10,320 --> 00:15:13,160 Speaker 1: he naturally wants that player in the paint. I mean, 258 00:15:13,240 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: imagine stepping to some toughest nails high school coach and 259 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: being like, Sir, I can't play center because I need 260 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: to develop an outside game for the NBA. Yeah, you'd 261 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 1: better be ready to run laps all around Lunetta, Manila's 262 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:32,160 Speaker 1: answer to New York Central Park until you collapse if 263 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:35,400 Speaker 1: you run that plan by the coach. That's really at 264 00:15:35,400 --> 00:15:39,000 Speaker 1: the heart of this cruel catch twenty two of basketball development. 265 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 1: The Filipino hooper is still having completely managed to break 266 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: free from The players with the most NBA ready skill 267 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:49,400 Speaker 1: sets tend to be guards who are barely scraping six feet, 268 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,360 Speaker 1: while the players with more conventional NBA body types don't 269 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: develop the outside game that they'd need to stand a 270 00:15:56,160 --> 00:15:58,840 Speaker 1: chance against the best players in the world. I mean, 271 00:15:58,920 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: you'd know better than may. But it does seem like 272 00:16:01,720 --> 00:16:05,040 Speaker 1: the country's basketball coaches and trainers are working hard to 273 00:16:05,080 --> 00:16:09,320 Speaker 1: reverse that trend and develop more versatile, taller players. Take 274 00:16:09,400 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: Kai Soto literally the tallest prospect the Philippines has ever 275 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: produced at seven foot two, and he's been working on 276 00:16:16,360 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: his touch on three pointers and running offense through his 277 00:16:19,160 --> 00:16:21,840 Speaker 1: high post passing for pretty much as long as he's 278 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:25,160 Speaker 1: been playing basketball, and it shows. If anything, I get 279 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: the sense that the NBA teams would like to see 280 00:16:27,240 --> 00:16:29,680 Speaker 1: him develop a little more physicality to go with all 281 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:34,560 Speaker 1: that finesse he flashes one hundred percent. It's definitely getting better, 282 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: and access to an infinite library of training techniques and 283 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:43,560 Speaker 1: philosophies throughout YouTube University is helping players expand their games 284 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: in ways previous generations never had the chance to, and 285 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:50,320 Speaker 1: the difference is already obvious in young national team players 286 00:16:50,400 --> 00:16:55,480 Speaker 1: like my guy six foot seven UAAP champion up Fighting 287 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: Maroon Carl Damayo, a twenty one year old forward whose 288 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: three point range ality to create off the dribble allow 289 00:17:01,800 --> 00:17:04,919 Speaker 1: him to switch comfortably between roles as a big and 290 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,840 Speaker 1: as a wing, depending on the role his team needs 291 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: for him to play in different lineups. If Carl becomes 292 00:17:10,800 --> 00:17:13,840 Speaker 1: a model for future Filipino players with similar height and 293 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: athletic profiles, then it starts to become much easier to 294 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: imagine the country producing talents worthy of the NBA's interest, 295 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,400 Speaker 1: and to get a deeper understanding of what it will 296 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:26,960 Speaker 1: take to develop not just the first born and raised 297 00:17:26,960 --> 00:17:31,240 Speaker 1: Filipino NBA player, but a consistent pipeline of MBA worthy talent. 298 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,560 Speaker 1: We wanted to speak with a Philippine basketball legend who 299 00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:38,479 Speaker 1: has an insider's knowledge of both the PBA and MBA worlds. 300 00:17:39,000 --> 00:17:43,040 Speaker 1: Jimmy Allipague, a Filipino American guard from Southern California, is 301 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: currently an assistant coach with the Stockton Kings, the g 302 00:17:46,040 --> 00:17:49,359 Speaker 1: League affiliate of the NBA Sacramento Kings. As a player, 303 00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: the five nine point guard had anything but MBA height, 304 00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:55,919 Speaker 1: but in moments that are unforgettable to Filipino fans, he 305 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,520 Speaker 1: gave MBA guards like Pablo Prigioni and JJ Borea all 306 00:17:59,520 --> 00:18:02,359 Speaker 1: they could handle when Jimmy and the Philippine national team 307 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,879 Speaker 1: matched up against Argentina and Puerto Rico in the twenty 308 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: fourteen Feeble World Cup. And that's really just scratching the 309 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: surface of a career full of international heroics to go 310 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:17,560 Speaker 1: along with six PBA Championships, two PBA Finals, MVP Awards, 311 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,800 Speaker 1: and the twenty eleven PBA regular season MVP. Between his 312 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:25,119 Speaker 1: fourteen season pro career playing in the Philippines and his 313 00:18:25,320 --> 00:18:28,480 Speaker 1: current role helping the Stockton Kings G League players improve 314 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:30,840 Speaker 1: their games in hopes of earning full time roles in 315 00:18:30,880 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: the NBA. There's probably nobody on the planet with a 316 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: better understanding of these strengths and weaknesses of Filipino players 317 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:41,119 Speaker 1: and exactly what the country needs to do to develop 318 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: more NBA talent. You know, I think I think it 319 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 1: would be groundbreaking. You know, again for a country that 320 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: has such a deep love and passion for the game. 321 00:18:49,800 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 1: I think it would just serve as a huge inspiration 322 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:53,919 Speaker 1: for the next generation to say, hey, this kid was 323 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: born and raised here in the country, and now he's 324 00:18:56,800 --> 00:18:59,160 Speaker 1: playing against the best in the world. You know, obviously, 325 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: you know, Kay, you know, is working his way towards 326 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:05,320 Speaker 1: blazon that trail. M And I think up to this point, 327 00:19:05,359 --> 00:19:07,240 Speaker 1: he's he's done a great job. You know, he's only 328 00:19:07,240 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 1: twenty years old. Um, I think I think he's still 329 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: you know, he still has things to work on his game, 330 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 1: but you know, he just went through the draft process. 331 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:16,880 Speaker 1: You know, he already played professionally in a very competitive 332 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: league in Australia. So I think he's on his way, 333 00:19:19,359 --> 00:19:22,120 Speaker 1: you know, and hopefully he stays healthy and just continues 334 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: to grow with his game and continues to just improve 335 00:19:25,560 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: because at this level, I mean, it's it's the best 336 00:19:27,800 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: in the world for a reason. But it's great to 337 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,959 Speaker 1: see him really carry the hopes of an entire country 338 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: on his young shoulders. But getting a chance to talk 339 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:39,359 Speaker 1: to him a few weeks ago in Sacramental when he 340 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: came to work out for the team, um, it was 341 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,720 Speaker 1: really good. And again I think he does have time 342 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:46,960 Speaker 1: on his side, and it's just a matter of him 343 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: continuing to work on his game and continue to improve, 344 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:52,200 Speaker 1: and hopefully he'll get that opportunity. So what do you think? 345 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: How long will it be before the Philippines makes history 346 00:19:55,560 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: with its first born and raised NBA player? Oh? Man, 347 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: I don't know. I also don't want to say something 348 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:05,200 Speaker 1: presumptuous that it jinxes us and then I wind up 349 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 1: never seeing that moment come in my lifetime. I mean, 350 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: all right, I asked the question, but like, relax, just 351 00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: looking for an over under here. No need to get 352 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: like existential on us. But we're beIN noise. Basketball is existential. Fine, okay, okay. 353 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:24,880 Speaker 1: Let me think ever since Japetaguilar a College in Manila 354 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: to make a run at US Division one ball, there's 355 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 1: been a steady trickle, trickle of Filipino talent willing to 356 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,679 Speaker 1: chase the NBA dream. And over that time that trickle 357 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,159 Speaker 1: has become more like a stream. And each new player 358 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:41,199 Speaker 1: in that lineage, from Kobe Paras to Bobby ray Park's 359 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: junior to Kai, they all seem to get a little 360 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,880 Speaker 1: bit closer to the NBA. That's promising, But I don't 361 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:51,080 Speaker 1: want to make the mistake of assuming it'll always go 362 00:20:51,200 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: that way. That just because Kai got so close to 363 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 1: the next hopeful who comes along as a short bed 364 00:20:56,480 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 1: to make it all the way, and it won't be 365 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:02,199 Speaker 1: anything to be a shamed of if more players try 366 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:05,280 Speaker 1: and ultimately fall short. I mean, it is the NBA 367 00:21:05,359 --> 00:21:07,680 Speaker 1: and there's only room for four hundred and fifty of 368 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:11,320 Speaker 1: the most gifted basketball players alive. But the way things 369 00:21:11,359 --> 00:21:14,720 Speaker 1: are going and how fast Filipino players seem to be 370 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: gaining the sort of skills they'll need to get the 371 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:20,919 Speaker 1: league's attention, someday, Hey, here it is, I think we 372 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: could see the first NBA player born and raised the 373 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: Philippines within I don't know, ten years time, twenty thirty three, 374 00:21:31,400 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 1: mark your calendar. Oh okay, marked, I think we need 375 00:21:34,880 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: to talk about one more big subject before we wrap 376 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:42,159 Speaker 1: a bow around this podcast. What will it mean to 377 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: each of us personally, to our families, to everyone living 378 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: in the Philippines, and to the Filipinos based in countries 379 00:21:48,280 --> 00:21:51,320 Speaker 1: all over the world when that first born and raise 380 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,879 Speaker 1: Pinoy finally makes it to the league. And to have 381 00:21:54,960 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: that conversation, I asked a friend to join us. He 382 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: has a way of putting things in perspective, which is 383 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 1: my nice way of saying. He's a world class overthinker. 384 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 1: And you know he went to Harvard, so you know 385 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:10,679 Speaker 1: he's got class. A fellow member of the ESPN Filipino 386 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 1: Cabayan Club and a proud chronicler of every major sporting 387 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:22,240 Speaker 1: achievement by Pinoy athletes ESPN and Meadowlarks. Pablo Esturing, what 388 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:26,320 Speaker 1: would it mean to Filipino fans to see the first 389 00:22:26,359 --> 00:22:30,000 Speaker 1: born and raise Filipino player in the NBA? You know, 390 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:32,000 Speaker 1: have you ever thought about that and what do you 391 00:22:32,040 --> 00:22:36,600 Speaker 1: think that would mean? Yeah, I've literally dreamed it. It is. 392 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: It's a messianic concept. And I say that with all 393 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:45,960 Speaker 1: of the knowledge of Catholicism, of religiosity informing our ancestry, 394 00:22:46,320 --> 00:22:49,959 Speaker 1: Like I think people literally pray for this, and of 395 00:22:49,960 --> 00:22:52,400 Speaker 1: course they do. I mean, look at the I mean 396 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: the DNA, and I'll move to the science as well 397 00:22:55,359 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 1: as the spirit of this, like the DNA of the 398 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:04,800 Speaker 1: Filipino right. It is defiant. It is so defiant in 399 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:08,080 Speaker 1: the face of a basic fact that says this sport 400 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:15,600 Speaker 1: is not for you. The universe. It seems at some 401 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,320 Speaker 1: point like God was like, you know what, I know. 402 00:23:18,400 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 1: You guys like boxing, grade you can go do that. 403 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: You guys like cockfighting. It seems like maybe a little 404 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,719 Speaker 1: questionable ethnically, but can rock with it basketball. It is 405 00:23:26,840 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: staggering how unrelenting we are in chasing this as the 406 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:35,840 Speaker 1: thing we love the most. I never got over that. 407 00:23:35,960 --> 00:23:39,200 Speaker 1: I'll never get over it, and I refuse to give 408 00:23:39,240 --> 00:23:42,719 Speaker 1: it up for that reason. So is that how you 409 00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: would describe what it would mean to you personally? If 410 00:23:47,840 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: as a fan, you're watching the NBA Draft and whoever 411 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,680 Speaker 1: Juan de la Cruz it is, and the two twenty something, 412 00:23:58,160 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: hopefully it's the twenties draft, it's called up with the 413 00:24:02,080 --> 00:24:04,639 Speaker 1: you know in pick of the draft, like, are you 414 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: just gonna completely just lose it? What does it look 415 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:10,639 Speaker 1: like in the Tory household? In my dream? There are 416 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,800 Speaker 1: two versions that I'm not sure which version is best. 417 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: In the one dream, of course, he's a lottery pick, right, 418 00:24:17,040 --> 00:24:19,840 Speaker 1: and he's on stage and he's dapping up Adam Silver 419 00:24:20,160 --> 00:24:23,959 Speaker 1: and he's dancing in a way that also shows another 420 00:24:24,080 --> 00:24:27,959 Speaker 1: great Filipino talent, maybe grabbing the microphone, doing a little karaoke, 421 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,480 Speaker 1: a little air supply. Maybe it's that. But in the 422 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:35,080 Speaker 1: second version of this dream, which I'm actually kind of 423 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:39,120 Speaker 1: more intrigued by, he's like, not there, it's a late 424 00:24:39,240 --> 00:24:43,600 Speaker 1: round pick. But ESPN cuts to the home and you 425 00:24:43,640 --> 00:24:47,680 Speaker 1: just see the spread. You see the titas, you see everybody, 426 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:51,479 Speaker 1: like everyone has a plate. They're like they got let 427 00:24:51,560 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 1: chone in their mouth. The csig is still it's still sizzling. 428 00:24:56,000 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 1: You can hear it, like right off screen, you can 429 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,000 Speaker 1: smell it through the television. I kind of want the 430 00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: chaos of like and there he is with all of 431 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:08,120 Speaker 1: his cousins, or at least the people that he says 432 00:25:08,160 --> 00:25:11,280 Speaker 1: are his cousins. It's really impossible to know based on 433 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:15,120 Speaker 1: the sheer numbers inside of this box. Uh yeah, man, 434 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:17,159 Speaker 1: I want I want the most Filipino version of this, 435 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:20,520 Speaker 1: and I think that might be it. I think, I 436 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:24,880 Speaker 1: think though, that that second version happens. And then right 437 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:29,600 Speaker 1: behind him, it's the three of us because the family 438 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:33,360 Speaker 1: has reached out and like, these three are vaguely somehow 439 00:25:33,400 --> 00:25:35,760 Speaker 1: connected to me. You know, we know them, we know 440 00:25:36,440 --> 00:25:41,280 Speaker 1: them in Yeah, they're Tina baby, knew my Tino junior, 441 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 1: and we're we're they went to school together, like you 442 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: know they they went to mass once. We're related. I mean, 443 00:25:49,480 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 1: while we're talking about family, who in your life do 444 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,440 Speaker 1: you feel like would have the greatest sense of joy 445 00:25:56,720 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: or pride when it happens. Is it you? Or do 446 00:25:58,880 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: you have you know other family members who you feel like, like, 447 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:05,239 Speaker 1: does your mom you know, always point out, you know, 448 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:11,920 Speaker 1: versus Filipino like anyone. I mean, my life is constantly 449 00:26:12,040 --> 00:26:15,400 Speaker 1: people pointing with their mouths towards people who are plausibly 450 00:26:15,440 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 1: Filipino and being like miss Usa, y Erican idol, that 451 00:26:23,880 --> 00:26:27,480 Speaker 1: girl from high school musical. It's all that. And so 452 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:30,080 Speaker 1: I do have to credit like I inherited love of 453 00:26:30,080 --> 00:26:32,880 Speaker 1: basketball truly from my dad and my mom. I'm first 454 00:26:32,920 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 1: generation American. They came over. I inherited, I mean mostly 455 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,040 Speaker 1: from my dad. My mom really, I mean she supports, 456 00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:41,880 Speaker 1: she now supports what I do in sports. So they're 457 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:45,800 Speaker 1: candidates for this question. But the answer really is I 458 00:26:46,520 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 1: have an almost three year old daughter now, and I 459 00:26:50,520 --> 00:26:54,479 Speaker 1: am trying to raise her to care about basketball in 460 00:26:54,520 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 1: the way that half of her, the Filipino half, truly 461 00:27:00,040 --> 00:27:03,320 Speaker 1: he needs to to continue my legacy. And so by 462 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 1: the time this happens, and I believe she, I fear 463 00:27:08,040 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: and actually hope, I suppose that, yes, she's conscious enough, 464 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:14,160 Speaker 1: she's old enough to have the ability to form memories 465 00:27:14,200 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 1: of this moment when this hypothetical Filipino, this Juan de 466 00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:22,919 Speaker 1: la Cruz is drafted that she will see that television 467 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: screen and recognize herself, like and that's what this is 468 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:30,160 Speaker 1: about in the end, right like it's it's the Philippine. 469 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:37,800 Speaker 1: I mean, look, Asia as a concept is vast, billions 470 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:43,200 Speaker 1: of people across so many countries and in America, lots 471 00:27:43,200 --> 00:27:46,840 Speaker 1: of places, honestly across the world. Everything gets shrunk into 472 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:50,479 Speaker 1: one thing. We're all Asian, and I and part of 473 00:27:50,520 --> 00:27:54,159 Speaker 1: me that resonates I feel it I take pride in 474 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: that on some level, but really, the Filipino experience is 475 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,879 Speaker 1: a particular one. It's a particular one in the way 476 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,160 Speaker 1: that all cultures are, but ours when it comes to basketball, 477 00:28:04,320 --> 00:28:07,840 Speaker 1: is ours. Like I can't think of anything else that's 478 00:28:07,920 --> 00:28:12,439 Speaker 1: like basketball in the Philippines as a matter of love, 479 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:16,479 Speaker 1: as a matter of family, as a matter of faith, 480 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: and that shit to me, Like, I want, I want 481 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:25,240 Speaker 1: everyone in my bloodline to know and to feel that 482 00:28:25,480 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 1: in the way that I think we do. And I 483 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:33,120 Speaker 1: think it's the ultimate achievement, right, because over the last 484 00:28:33,119 --> 00:28:35,920 Speaker 1: few decades there has been this diaspoor of Filipino people 485 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:40,360 Speaker 1: just going out into the world and joining workforces. It 486 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: pick whichever country, right, I think it's the ultimate achievement 487 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: that the peak elites avenger level ofw Filipino overseas foreign 488 00:28:51,000 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: worker is an NBA player. Yeah, it's storybook. That's just 489 00:28:56,640 --> 00:28:58,920 Speaker 1: where all of this is supposed to be headed. No, 490 00:28:59,280 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 1: you've met our nurses, right you you you you know us. 491 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:10,960 Speaker 1: We're good to you. We speak startlingly good English. Look 492 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:12,840 Speaker 1: at this guy. You have to dunk on your head. 493 00:29:13,960 --> 00:29:18,720 Speaker 1: Enjoy that now. But what if you can't dunk on 494 00:29:18,760 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 1: your head, like doesn't matter if that player goes on 495 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:24,600 Speaker 1: to have like a great career, like a regular one 496 00:29:24,680 --> 00:29:28,200 Speaker 1: or poor one, like it's just being drafted. You know 497 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:31,280 Speaker 1: good enough, you know it's a great question. And I 498 00:29:31,320 --> 00:29:34,800 Speaker 1: don't want to put all of this pressure on somebody 499 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,280 Speaker 1: who realistically, although Nate Robinson, I have learned in my 500 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: extensive research is like fractionally Filipino, So I don't want 501 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,960 Speaker 1: to absolutely claimed claimed. We tried to make Andre Blatch 502 00:29:46,040 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: of Filipino through legislation to play for the national team 503 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:52,000 Speaker 1: back to back baskets there by black step back. Remember 504 00:29:52,040 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: this is six powerfully we will take a sixteenth of 505 00:29:56,120 --> 00:30:03,120 Speaker 1: Nate Robinsons. But even still, I don't want to put 506 00:30:03,120 --> 00:30:04,719 Speaker 1: all the pressure on like, Okay, he needs to be 507 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:06,400 Speaker 1: like you know, he needs he needs to do the 508 00:30:06,400 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 1: exact things that our height would not suggest that we 509 00:30:08,600 --> 00:30:13,280 Speaker 1: can do. Um fare. I think it just needs to 510 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,760 Speaker 1: be the style it needs to be. It needs to 511 00:30:16,800 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 1: be a little reckless or a lot reckless. It needs 512 00:30:19,680 --> 00:30:24,280 Speaker 1: to be unnecessary. Spin moves between the legs on layups 513 00:30:24,920 --> 00:30:28,280 Speaker 1: like give me that three sixties, just like you know, 514 00:30:28,400 --> 00:30:30,320 Speaker 1: a little jelly as the kids say now, but like 515 00:30:30,400 --> 00:30:33,520 Speaker 1: it's the flare. It's the confidence, it's the it's the 516 00:30:33,560 --> 00:30:35,560 Speaker 1: idea of like this is a culture that dances and 517 00:30:35,560 --> 00:30:38,080 Speaker 1: things karaoke, and this is how they play basketball. I 518 00:30:38,120 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: want all of this. I want I want the clogged 519 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:45,440 Speaker 1: arteries of the Filipino digestive system. It's indulgence, the cholesterol, 520 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,320 Speaker 1: the unnecessary fat. I want all of that in this 521 00:30:49,400 --> 00:30:54,000 Speaker 1: person's game. That's all I ask for it. Yeah, that's 522 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:57,960 Speaker 1: all you ask. I mean, it's poetic. You are a 523 00:30:58,040 --> 00:31:03,560 Speaker 1: poetic I have a lot of space in my back 524 00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: for just like a massive tattoo. I think I just 525 00:31:06,120 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: found out what I'm going to put there, and it's 526 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:12,760 Speaker 1: just like beautiful, perfect curative, entire the entire ten seconds 527 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: I'm just gonna have in my back. Yeah, it didn't 528 00:31:15,520 --> 00:31:17,680 Speaker 1: go as well when I went to my doctor's office 529 00:31:17,680 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 1: and got my physical and he was like, you need 530 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:25,400 Speaker 1: to stop eating what you whatever? It is. Yeah, it's 531 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:28,600 Speaker 1: like this ray, this X ray just has a picture 532 00:31:28,640 --> 00:31:31,160 Speaker 1: of a pig on it. I don't understand how this 533 00:31:31,280 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 1: is possible. Follow I know we laugh about it, I 534 00:31:34,920 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 1: know we poke fun about you know us. Really covetting 535 00:31:38,960 --> 00:31:43,160 Speaker 1: is the word covetting just like a home grown Filipino 536 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:49,959 Speaker 1: born and raised Lichon eating basketball player in the NBA. 537 00:31:50,640 --> 00:31:54,160 Speaker 1: Is there though a lesson here somewhere about us maybe 538 00:31:54,200 --> 00:31:58,200 Speaker 1: not being so overly covettis of that one thing that 539 00:31:58,280 --> 00:32:01,840 Speaker 1: the Philippines hasn't yet achieved in basketball, which is a 540 00:32:01,920 --> 00:32:05,880 Speaker 1: homegrown NBA player when look at all the other things 541 00:32:05,920 --> 00:32:08,520 Speaker 1: we have, you know, burden hand, burden bush, you know. O, 542 00:32:08,520 --> 00:32:13,000 Speaker 1: We're a country that has a basketball culture that's maybe richer, deeper, 543 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 1: definitely on the elite, you know, and it goes back 544 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: through history, you know then compared to anywhere else on 545 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,120 Speaker 1: the planet. No, it is I mean true to the 546 00:32:23,160 --> 00:32:28,320 Speaker 1: whole idea of like exporting Filipinos wherever, right, like there 547 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:32,240 Speaker 1: is something truly as a human as a matter of 548 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:37,520 Speaker 1: the human condition. It's objectively impressive that this culture has 549 00:32:37,560 --> 00:32:40,800 Speaker 1: bloomed in the way that it has in the absence 550 00:32:40,920 --> 00:32:46,560 Speaker 1: of the most conventional ways to install love in someone 551 00:32:46,680 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: for something. Right, the way you install love for someone 552 00:32:50,160 --> 00:32:53,440 Speaker 1: in something most easily is you say, hey, here is 553 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:56,920 Speaker 1: something that looks like you. Do you identify with it? 554 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,920 Speaker 1: We didn't do that. There is so little to identify 555 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: with in terms of basketball being sold to us from 556 00:33:04,480 --> 00:33:08,640 Speaker 1: the very beginning, right, And even the origins story remains 557 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:11,240 Speaker 1: a little confusing to me, a little mystical to me, 558 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: Like in my mind, it's just sort of like it happened. 559 00:33:14,880 --> 00:33:17,360 Speaker 1: And I'm sure it happened in the way that spam 560 00:33:17,400 --> 00:33:19,920 Speaker 1: became a thing that my doctor tells me to eat 561 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,440 Speaker 1: less of, right, like exported from the United States an 562 00:33:23,520 --> 00:33:27,080 Speaker 1: army base somewhere World War two. I'm sure there are 563 00:33:27,160 --> 00:33:30,920 Speaker 1: roots in that. But the fact that we built a 564 00:33:31,000 --> 00:33:40,120 Speaker 1: flourishing culture, economy, dream dream world around something that isn't 565 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: for us explicitly that you sent us out somewhere and 566 00:33:46,520 --> 00:33:52,120 Speaker 1: we thrived in alien circumstances, Like that's the story of 567 00:33:52,120 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 1: the Philippines too, And even if we never get the 568 00:33:55,520 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 1: thing that we dream of, I love that. I love 569 00:34:00,040 --> 00:34:04,200 Speaker 1: act literally for us. I love it. I mean, you've 570 00:34:04,240 --> 00:34:06,760 Speaker 1: said it all, I guess, like, just to put a 571 00:34:06,800 --> 00:34:12,680 Speaker 1: final bow on this conversation, I don't know how much 572 00:34:12,719 --> 00:34:15,440 Speaker 1: more poetic you can get, but if you could, just 573 00:34:15,560 --> 00:34:17,640 Speaker 1: what is the first thing that comes to mind when 574 00:34:17,640 --> 00:34:24,239 Speaker 1: you think of Filipino's relationship to basketball. Yeah, this is 575 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: less poetic, but it's real. I have the one of 576 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:30,920 Speaker 1: my most treasured possessions is I want I try to 577 00:34:30,920 --> 00:34:35,759 Speaker 1: explain the Philippines and like the Philippine Basketball Association to people, right, 578 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:38,880 Speaker 1: like in what it's like over there, and the rules 579 00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:43,560 Speaker 1: about imports and height and I mean just all of it, right, 580 00:34:43,600 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: all of its. I just show them this jersey that 581 00:34:47,760 --> 00:34:51,279 Speaker 1: I have. It's an Alvin patrimonial autograph jersey. It is 582 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:55,839 Speaker 1: the Tender Juicy hot Dogs emblazoned across the front. And 583 00:34:55,920 --> 00:35:00,200 Speaker 1: I'm like, I know, you thought I was joking. I 584 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:05,040 Speaker 1: was talking about all the pork stuff. But just imagine, 585 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:08,680 Speaker 1: just imagine an NBA team called the Tender Juicy hot 586 00:35:08,719 --> 00:35:13,360 Speaker 1: Dogs being like the greatest team in the league, and 587 00:35:13,440 --> 00:35:15,719 Speaker 1: you'll have a little sense as to how it is 588 00:35:16,239 --> 00:35:22,280 Speaker 1: that our mash up of culture is is both special 589 00:35:23,000 --> 00:35:29,640 Speaker 1: and in every possible way extremely delicious. Yeah, that's that's 590 00:35:29,680 --> 00:35:34,360 Speaker 1: the choice of an adjective. Pablo. I mean, they're very red, Nico, 591 00:35:34,400 --> 00:35:37,040 Speaker 1: They're so red. I mean the hot dogs on question 592 00:35:37,080 --> 00:35:38,680 Speaker 1: that you gotta know what they are. It's like it's 593 00:35:38,680 --> 00:35:42,600 Speaker 1: almost like chemically red. You know, it's like package pre package. 594 00:35:42,640 --> 00:35:46,680 Speaker 1: It's it's a it's it's not it's it's not necessarily 595 00:35:46,760 --> 00:35:49,319 Speaker 1: what your doctor wants, but my god, man, with some 596 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:51,279 Speaker 1: white rice, and it's always with some more white rice. 597 00:35:51,280 --> 00:35:55,600 Speaker 1: It's white Pablo the poet Torre. Everyone. Now, we're going 598 00:35:55,680 --> 00:35:57,600 Speaker 1: to take a quick break before we wrapped this full 599 00:35:57,640 --> 00:36:12,239 Speaker 1: thing up in a ball. Nico, I can't believe this 600 00:36:12,360 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 1: experience is over. This has been, I mean enlightening. It's 601 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:23,240 Speaker 1: been just special to not only talk to you every 602 00:36:23,280 --> 00:36:27,439 Speaker 1: single episode, but to learn more about the Philippines, which 603 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:31,480 Speaker 1: obviously I have this strong connection too, but still kind 604 00:36:31,480 --> 00:36:35,440 Speaker 1: of feel incredibly distant from. So you know, this has 605 00:36:35,440 --> 00:36:39,640 Speaker 1: been a really, really um wonderful experience and I couldn't 606 00:36:39,640 --> 00:36:42,799 Speaker 1: think of a better person than you to share it with. Yeah, No, 607 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:45,680 Speaker 1: I mean absolutely, I think that our friendship and how 608 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:48,799 Speaker 1: it's grown is my favorite thing out of this entire experience. 609 00:36:48,880 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 1: But also I've really felt much more connected to the 610 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:58,960 Speaker 1: Philippines and being Filipino, and I feel extremely validated by 611 00:36:59,040 --> 00:37:02,040 Speaker 1: this basketball craz that I've had ever since I was 612 00:37:02,120 --> 00:37:05,000 Speaker 1: like two years old, you know, just by talking to 613 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,719 Speaker 1: all these other people from all around the world who 614 00:37:07,760 --> 00:37:10,600 Speaker 1: feel the same way, tracing back a little bit of 615 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:15,360 Speaker 1: our history. It's I'm so proud to be Filipino and 616 00:37:15,400 --> 00:37:18,480 Speaker 1: to be part of this crazy basketball country. I mean, 617 00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:23,040 Speaker 1: Sames's you said it validation, I will say, you know, 618 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:28,240 Speaker 1: it's just learning more and feeling more connected and understanding 619 00:37:28,360 --> 00:37:31,799 Speaker 1: just the passion that the Philippines has for basketball. I 620 00:37:31,840 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 1: think also makes me understand myself a little bit in 621 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:37,480 Speaker 1: the connection that you know, I've always had to basketball 622 00:37:37,600 --> 00:37:40,640 Speaker 1: my whole life. I will say, I think my mom, 623 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:44,440 Speaker 1: who will definitely be listening, Hi, Mom, I don't know 624 00:37:44,600 --> 00:37:48,320 Speaker 1: she'll be you know, happy with like the tagala lessons 625 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:52,160 Speaker 1: that you gave me throughout the show, or just disappointed 626 00:37:52,239 --> 00:37:54,799 Speaker 1: in herself since she didn't teach me tegala growing up, 627 00:37:54,840 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: because that's only your fault, Mom, Like, like, let's have 628 00:37:57,280 --> 00:38:00,239 Speaker 1: a real one on one conversation here, like you and 629 00:38:00,280 --> 00:38:02,560 Speaker 1: Lola should have taught me to gala growing up. But 630 00:38:03,239 --> 00:38:05,080 Speaker 1: not that I hold it against you or anything, but 631 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:07,600 Speaker 1: at least I found my friend Nico to help me out, 632 00:38:07,640 --> 00:38:10,680 Speaker 1: you know, thirty eight years later. I think to wrap 633 00:38:10,719 --> 00:38:13,200 Speaker 1: it up, this would be a good point to finally 634 00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:17,799 Speaker 1: give you your grade. After all the lessons each episode, right, 635 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:23,360 Speaker 1: so not good? I think. I think given the limited time, 636 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:26,759 Speaker 1: limited exposure to it, and the fact that I put 637 00:38:26,840 --> 00:38:30,200 Speaker 1: you on the spot with super difficult terms each and 638 00:38:30,239 --> 00:38:32,719 Speaker 1: every episode. I think you get away from this with 639 00:38:32,800 --> 00:38:36,440 Speaker 1: a really strong B B. I mean, we all know 640 00:38:36,520 --> 00:38:39,920 Speaker 1: in every Asian household, a B is zon won't cut it. 641 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:43,040 Speaker 1: But I will take a BEE because I was more 642 00:38:43,200 --> 00:38:45,920 Speaker 1: like behind the scenes, there's a thing called an edit button. 643 00:38:46,160 --> 00:38:49,200 Speaker 1: Our producers, Peter and Grace, I think they would probably 644 00:38:49,200 --> 00:38:51,840 Speaker 1: grade me more like a D, but I will. I 645 00:38:51,880 --> 00:38:55,239 Speaker 1: will take a bee, not a curb. No, I think 646 00:38:55,400 --> 00:38:57,640 Speaker 1: I think a B is strong with a possible B 647 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,560 Speaker 1: plus if you put in a little bit of their credit. 648 00:39:00,719 --> 00:39:05,640 Speaker 1: But your mom and your Lola, they both get sea viruses. Sorry, 649 00:39:05,880 --> 00:39:09,120 Speaker 1: exactly exactly, but I will say this. It just was 650 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:11,520 Speaker 1: so great to talk to so many different people. I 651 00:39:11,520 --> 00:39:16,040 Speaker 1: think my favorite interview was with Eric Spoelstra because I 652 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:19,000 Speaker 1: felt a connection to him, both of us being half 653 00:39:19,000 --> 00:39:25,000 Speaker 1: Filipino raised and born of course Stateside, but always having 654 00:39:25,040 --> 00:39:27,960 Speaker 1: this like deep love for the Philippines. What you hope 655 00:39:27,960 --> 00:39:31,840 Speaker 1: for is that young kids cannot put limits on what 656 00:39:31,880 --> 00:39:34,480 Speaker 1: their dreams may be, and so if they see more 657 00:39:34,560 --> 00:39:37,400 Speaker 1: role models and see more possibilities of what could be, 658 00:39:37,440 --> 00:39:40,600 Speaker 1: and it maybe you know to be an NBA player 659 00:39:40,960 --> 00:39:45,000 Speaker 1: you know, like Jordan Clarkson or Green. But it also 660 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:47,600 Speaker 1: may be a dream just to work in NBA, to 661 00:39:47,640 --> 00:39:51,320 Speaker 1: work for the NBA main offices, to be involved somehow, 662 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:55,040 Speaker 1: some way in this great association. There are so many 663 00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:59,880 Speaker 1: different opportunities and possibilities now and hopefully you and I 664 00:40:00,080 --> 00:40:03,600 Speaker 1: you know, and everybody else can kind of pull back 665 00:40:03,640 --> 00:40:06,720 Speaker 1: the curtain for kids that may have just been fans before, 666 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:08,880 Speaker 1: they may be able to think bigger now. It was 667 00:40:08,920 --> 00:40:10,600 Speaker 1: funny at the end of it he called me his 668 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:14,640 Speaker 1: sister because we just had this connection of oh, yeah, okay, 669 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:18,200 Speaker 1: we're kind of the same person. We both have our 670 00:40:18,239 --> 00:40:20,840 Speaker 1: both of our mothers are born and raised in the Philippines, 671 00:40:20,960 --> 00:40:24,320 Speaker 1: both of our fathers are from you know, European descent, 672 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:27,520 Speaker 1: and we also found our careers in the NBA. And 673 00:40:27,600 --> 00:40:30,880 Speaker 1: to kind of like talk about just the super nova 674 00:40:30,960 --> 00:40:32,960 Speaker 1: that he is in the Philippines, I mean he is 675 00:40:33,000 --> 00:40:36,200 Speaker 1: like he is Michael Jackson meets Michael Jordan when he 676 00:40:36,239 --> 00:40:40,080 Speaker 1: goes over there. And he did extend an invitation for 677 00:40:40,120 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: all of us to join for a big party in 678 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:44,640 Speaker 1: the Philippines. So we better take him up on that. 679 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:50,640 Speaker 1: I am ready willing and able to be at that party. 680 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:53,360 Speaker 1: It's it's great to be able to kind of speak 681 00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:56,640 Speaker 1: to him now here for this podcast, and the conversation 682 00:40:56,680 --> 00:40:59,279 Speaker 1: that you guys had is such a fun listen. I 683 00:40:59,320 --> 00:41:02,839 Speaker 1: remember the first time he came over to the Philippines 684 00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:05,360 Speaker 1: as head coach of the Heat and he wasn't in 685 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:08,799 Speaker 1: a two time champ yet, um, and you know, he 686 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,839 Speaker 1: was just the guy that we were so proud of 687 00:41:11,880 --> 00:41:14,520 Speaker 1: for making it to be an NBA head coach. And 688 00:41:14,800 --> 00:41:17,839 Speaker 1: obviously we're a whole lot proud of him now. And 689 00:41:18,600 --> 00:41:21,759 Speaker 1: also we you know, we had conversations with guys who 690 00:41:22,040 --> 00:41:27,200 Speaker 1: are still deep in it in terms of pushing Philippine basketball, 691 00:41:27,200 --> 00:41:30,040 Speaker 1: whether it's Tim Cohen who when we spoke to him, 692 00:41:30,080 --> 00:41:32,800 Speaker 1: he was in the middle of getting ready for practice 693 00:41:33,160 --> 00:41:39,000 Speaker 1: for a PBA Finals game. And happy belated birthday, Yes, 694 00:41:39,320 --> 00:41:42,799 Speaker 1: yesterday it's been Yeah, it was, Yeah, it was. It 695 00:41:42,920 --> 00:41:46,000 Speaker 1: was a weird day yesterday. One of the very few 696 00:41:46,040 --> 00:41:50,520 Speaker 1: times I've won a game on my birthday. Usually I 697 00:41:52,560 --> 00:41:58,040 Speaker 1: feel like I broke the broke the curse. Yesterday? Are 698 00:41:58,040 --> 00:42:02,160 Speaker 1: you getting ready for practice? Is this? Yeah? In a 699 00:42:02,160 --> 00:42:04,160 Speaker 1: few hours, a couple of hours, we have a practice 700 00:42:04,239 --> 00:42:07,920 Speaker 1: and we have another game tomorrow. Game two is tomorrow. Yeah, 701 00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:10,040 Speaker 1: so we play a game one yesterday, we play game 702 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:15,040 Speaker 1: two tomorrow. Or Jimmy Lapage, who Kim Cohen famously passed 703 00:42:15,040 --> 00:42:18,480 Speaker 1: on in the draft, Jimmy never forgets and is now 704 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:21,640 Speaker 1: coaching in the NBA G League of all places. You know, 705 00:42:21,680 --> 00:42:23,640 Speaker 1: what I try to do is just with with our 706 00:42:23,680 --> 00:42:25,200 Speaker 1: young guys and the GI League, just try to help 707 00:42:25,200 --> 00:42:27,719 Speaker 1: them understand what it means to be a pro and 708 00:42:27,800 --> 00:42:29,480 Speaker 1: the type of work habits that you need to have 709 00:42:30,320 --> 00:42:35,000 Speaker 1: and really develop, you know, a routine for yourself, you know, 710 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:37,520 Speaker 1: you know, coming in early, staying late, and doing all 711 00:42:37,520 --> 00:42:39,160 Speaker 1: the things that are prod used to give them the 712 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 1: best chance. Because I know their goal ultimately is to 713 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:43,319 Speaker 1: be in the NBA, and so whatever we can do 714 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:45,719 Speaker 1: for them the GI League to build those habits to 715 00:42:45,719 --> 00:42:50,800 Speaker 1: help them work on their game improve growth. We're everywhere. 716 00:42:51,719 --> 00:42:59,520 Speaker 1: The Filipino basketball diaspora is incredibly impressive and we're gaining power. Well. 717 00:42:59,560 --> 00:43:02,440 Speaker 1: The one thing, the last infinity stone that we need 718 00:43:02,520 --> 00:43:05,920 Speaker 1: is that Filipino board and raised basketball player. But everything 719 00:43:05,960 --> 00:43:08,680 Speaker 1: else we've we've got it covered. Yeah, I mean, and 720 00:43:09,080 --> 00:43:13,239 Speaker 1: we still rep hard. Jalen Greene and Jordan Clarkson like 721 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:16,400 Speaker 1: they we'll take the happies for right now. I also 722 00:43:16,600 --> 00:43:23,520 Speaker 1: really enjoyed the conversation with Andy Thompson and the story 723 00:43:23,560 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 1: he told us about the bus trip, Like that was 724 00:43:26,040 --> 00:43:29,160 Speaker 1: that stopped me in my tracks. Literally, we came out, 725 00:43:29,880 --> 00:43:32,760 Speaker 1: they shook our hands, We gave them some high fives. 726 00:43:32,800 --> 00:43:34,839 Speaker 1: There was no autographs. They just wanted to meet us. 727 00:43:35,200 --> 00:43:37,200 Speaker 1: Coach said okay, now go get back on the bus. 728 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:41,040 Speaker 1: And we got back on the bus visibly shaken, and 729 00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:44,120 Speaker 1: we didn't say anything. The coaches got back on the 730 00:43:44,120 --> 00:43:46,840 Speaker 1: bus and we drove away. And to this day I 731 00:43:46,880 --> 00:43:50,440 Speaker 1: still think I am so fortunate that these were like 732 00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:53,680 Speaker 1: thumb wife fans are not fans of Janet buy or 733 00:43:54,280 --> 00:43:59,080 Speaker 1: Toyota or somebody else. What a roller coaster of emotions. 734 00:44:00,040 --> 00:44:02,319 Speaker 1: What was your teammate thinking And did any of your 735 00:44:02,600 --> 00:44:05,239 Speaker 1: teammates who were local, did they say anything to you 736 00:44:05,320 --> 00:44:08,480 Speaker 1: before you got off the bus. Yeah, when everybody finally 737 00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:10,920 Speaker 1: felt comfortable enough to talk, they said, you guys are 738 00:44:11,000 --> 00:44:14,239 Speaker 1: very lucky because normally they take you and they hold 739 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:17,760 Speaker 1: up of hostage. Because the United States at that time, 740 00:44:18,400 --> 00:44:21,680 Speaker 1: when they had a policy, they wouldn't negotiate, and so 741 00:44:22,760 --> 00:44:25,319 Speaker 1: it was just like once again after the fact, when 742 00:44:25,360 --> 00:44:27,040 Speaker 1: you when you get back to your hotel room, we 743 00:44:27,080 --> 00:44:29,400 Speaker 1: still had a game to play. To this day, I 744 00:44:29,480 --> 00:44:31,640 Speaker 1: know I have some photographs of where we played, but 745 00:44:31,719 --> 00:44:35,360 Speaker 1: I don't remember anything about the game because my mind 746 00:44:35,440 --> 00:44:37,040 Speaker 1: was still on the back of that bus and in 747 00:44:37,120 --> 00:44:40,319 Speaker 1: that in that jungle. And when you get back to 748 00:44:40,360 --> 00:44:42,200 Speaker 1: your room and at night, then you lay down in 749 00:44:42,239 --> 00:44:45,280 Speaker 1: your bed, that's when you realize we definitely dodged a bullet, 750 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:48,960 Speaker 1: no question. That to me was a standout interview and 751 00:44:49,080 --> 00:44:53,920 Speaker 1: story from the podcast. I also loved learning about just 752 00:44:54,080 --> 00:44:57,440 Speaker 1: the style uh in the PBA because it does it 753 00:44:57,440 --> 00:45:01,000 Speaker 1: reminds me of my scrappy style in middle school. I 754 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:03,920 Speaker 1: can't believe I continue to talk about my middle school career. 755 00:45:03,960 --> 00:45:08,120 Speaker 1: I am the saddest person alive. That was my last bit. 756 00:45:08,239 --> 00:45:10,399 Speaker 1: That was my last bit, being able to visit your 757 00:45:10,440 --> 00:45:15,120 Speaker 1: middle school greatness. That and Raymond Townsend paving the way 758 00:45:15,400 --> 00:45:18,600 Speaker 1: for all basketball players with Filipino heritage, and him also 759 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:21,759 Speaker 1: being like a top five just nicest person ever in 760 00:45:21,800 --> 00:45:26,040 Speaker 1: the world. Yes, it touches your heart to know that 761 00:45:26,080 --> 00:45:29,880 Speaker 1: these people are so proud and you know, my legacy 762 00:45:30,960 --> 00:45:34,440 Speaker 1: was forty two years ago but these people act like 763 00:45:34,480 --> 00:45:39,200 Speaker 1: it was yesterday, so you can imagine. I'm so humble 764 00:45:39,239 --> 00:45:43,640 Speaker 1: and grateful and I think Jesus every day for the 765 00:45:43,680 --> 00:45:46,680 Speaker 1: blessed life that He's given me through this wonderful game 766 00:45:46,719 --> 00:45:53,439 Speaker 1: of basketball. That and revisiting your middle school three year 767 00:45:53,640 --> 00:45:58,000 Speaker 1: MVP run are tied for me for I guess best 768 00:45:58,040 --> 00:46:02,200 Speaker 1: experiences of this podcast. Sorry sorry Raymond, but you know 769 00:46:02,480 --> 00:46:06,320 Speaker 1: three time MVP over here Chicago's finest. Here you go, 770 00:46:07,040 --> 00:46:12,239 Speaker 1: here you go, hub in the building, humum fume um. 771 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:17,080 Speaker 1: But it was a pleasure and just an absolute wonder 772 00:46:17,080 --> 00:46:19,680 Speaker 1: to be able to spend this time with Eunico and 773 00:46:20,080 --> 00:46:26,239 Speaker 1: let's let's do it again. Can't believe it's done.