Super-celebrity Manny Pacquiao is not part of the
activities to pit Gilas Pilipinas against the PLDT HOME Fibr All-Stars
comprised of selected NBA stars. Yet, he was still very much part of the
discussion when more than half of the latter’s roster faced the press
at NBA Café Monday afternoon (July 21).
Well, the visiting NBA players certainly found the idea of the Pacman playing basketball amusing, with actually no intention of sounding offensive.
When asked how they intend to perform if given the chance to play against the Philippine boxing hero, one of them quipped, "I'll shoot over him!"
Another was more aggressively funny, "He doesn't have a chance," he said, even showing off the kind of athletic move he'd be able to do in front of a living boxing legend.
Even respected skills coach John Lucas found a way to insert a punch line, "We won't box him!"
Harden's take
That in essence kicked off the press conference that saw the likes of James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Kawhi Leonard appearing in flesh before a packed venue filled with reporters from the local sports and entertainment media.
For a glimpse of their colorful background, Harden is the bearded former Oklahoma City Thunder star-now-donning a Houston Rocket jersey. Lillard made the 2014 NBA playoffs extra memorable with his emphatic buzzer-beater trey that sent Portland Trailblazers to the second round. And Leonard was the "Spur of the moment" in the recent NBA Finals that ended the reign of Miami Heat's Big Three.
When queried about his view of the way Filipino basketball players strutt their way in the court, Harden, having played against a PBA roster before, stated, "They were team-oriented and play well as a team. I got an opportunity to work out with them and found their skills already set."
Once in a lifetime
Others who were at the NBA Cafe gathering were Brandon Jennings, Kyle Lowry, Terrence Ross, and DeMar DeRozan.
All seven of them, along with Tyson Chandler, Ed Davis, Paul George, Blake Griffin and Nick Johnson, will play as members of the PLDT HOME FIBR All-Stars that will try to test the mettle of Gilas Pilipinas under coach Chot Reyes.
Gilas is coming off a morale-boosting bronze medal triumph in the FIBA Asia Cup held in Wuhan, China last week.
"It’s once in a lifetime that you can have these guys in the room with us," said Reyes, in a way emphasizing the special nature of the two-day event dubbed The Last HOME Stand to be held at Smart Araneta Coliseum today and tomorrow (July 22 and July 23).
For realWell, the visiting NBA players certainly found the idea of the Pacman playing basketball amusing, with actually no intention of sounding offensive.
When asked how they intend to perform if given the chance to play against the Philippine boxing hero, one of them quipped, "I'll shoot over him!"
Another was more aggressively funny, "He doesn't have a chance," he said, even showing off the kind of athletic move he'd be able to do in front of a living boxing legend.
Even respected skills coach John Lucas found a way to insert a punch line, "We won't box him!"
Harden's take
That in essence kicked off the press conference that saw the likes of James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Kawhi Leonard appearing in flesh before a packed venue filled with reporters from the local sports and entertainment media.
For a glimpse of their colorful background, Harden is the bearded former Oklahoma City Thunder star-now-donning a Houston Rocket jersey. Lillard made the 2014 NBA playoffs extra memorable with his emphatic buzzer-beater trey that sent Portland Trailblazers to the second round. And Leonard was the "Spur of the moment" in the recent NBA Finals that ended the reign of Miami Heat's Big Three.
When queried about his view of the way Filipino basketball players strutt their way in the court, Harden, having played against a PBA roster before, stated, "They were team-oriented and play well as a team. I got an opportunity to work out with them and found their skills already set."
Once in a lifetime
Others who were at the NBA Cafe gathering were Brandon Jennings, Kyle Lowry, Terrence Ross, and DeMar DeRozan.
All seven of them, along with Tyson Chandler, Ed Davis, Paul George, Blake Griffin and Nick Johnson, will play as members of the PLDT HOME FIBR All-Stars that will try to test the mettle of Gilas Pilipinas under coach Chot Reyes.
Gilas is coming off a morale-boosting bronze medal triumph in the FIBA Asia Cup held in Wuhan, China last week.
"It’s once in a lifetime that you can have these guys in the room with us," said Reyes, in a way emphasizing the special nature of the two-day event dubbed The Last HOME Stand to be held at Smart Araneta Coliseum today and tomorrow (July 22 and July 23).
Insiders say that the NBA stars are going into the two games against Gilas with the serious intention of displaying competitive competition.
Activities at Smart Araneta begin 4 pm today (July 22). The games will be broadcast on TV5.
Lucas expressed, "We're very glad to be here. We are really excited for the opportunity to work out with the Philippine National Team and help them prepare (for the World Cup)."
Lowry poignantly added, “We have a great group of guys that came out and want to put in a good show to the fans and give back to the community. It is an opportunity for us to see the world and interact with different cultures.”
Pacquiao's jab
As for Pacquaio who will coach team Kia Kamao in the PBA and is poised to join the league’s Draft in August, he already answered criticisms about his ability to play basketball, whether serious in tone or tongue-in-cheek.
“Bale wala sa ’kin yon," he was quoted as saying.
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