In the Philippines, basketball is an immersive experience. There’s a basketball court every three kilometers and players of all ages flock to these courts on a daily basis. Even on days when they’re being used for other functions, you’ll see a person or two shooting close to the hoop.
Pore over Facebook and it’s more likely that not that Filipinos are talking fighting over basketball (or because the Olympics just ended, sports) and the debates extend even beyond the confines of social media. Moreover, one doesn’t have to go far to see someone on the street wearing a basketball jersey, sometimes with a ball in hand.
In a nutshell, this was more or less the type of adventure that the New York Knicks’ Julius Randle and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Terance Mann encountered when they touched down in Manila.
Both Randle and Mann were brought here by Skechers as their NBA brand ambassadors and while they were promoting Skechers’ SKX line, they also received a crash course in Philippine basketball culture.
Of course, there was the usual press conference once they arrived and a Meet & Greet the following day at Skechers’ One Ayala store, its largest in the Philippines. But the main event was perhaps the trip Randle and Mann took to the Fort Bonifacio Tenement, where the world-famous Tenement Court was converted into a mural for the both of them.
Randle and Mann are currently playing in New York and Los Angeles, respectively, both of which are large markets. However, neither of those places could compare to the adulation and fanfare both received when they stepped onto the Tenement Court.
Kids would run to them to shake their hand, get their autograph, or have their picture taken. To those in the Fort Bonifacio Tenement, it was an experience to get up close and personal with players they would normally see on TV or on highlights. For Randle and Mann, they now got a taste of what peers like Jordan Clarkson, LeBron James, Jalen Brunson, Paul George, and Kawhi Leonard felt when they would go on tour or when they played in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
It wasn’t just a mere visit for Randle and Mann, as they were also there to help Skechers donate 100 pairs of shoes to the residents of the Fort Bonifacio Tenement, something that will last as long as the memories they gave to those in the Tenement Court.
It’s unfortunate that Randle and Mann came at a time when the PBA, the UAAP, and the NCAA were still at least weeks away from opening their respective seasons. Nonetheless, they arguably got the best experience a collegiate or professional game may not provide for them, which is to immerse themselves in one of those places where the true colors of Philippine basketball shine brightest.
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