Photo from https://www.facebook.com/doinitinthepark
MANILA, Philippines – Across 180 outdoor courts throughout New York City’s five boroughs, award-winning film “Doin’ It in the Park: Pick-up Basketball, NYC” took basketball junkies – whether they be hoops aficionados or the country’s premier cagers – right into the heart of the streetball scene in an exclusive screening presented by Nike recently at the Ronac Art Center in San Juan.
The two years-in-the-making documentary, a masterpiece by co-directors Robert “Bobbito” Garcia and Kevin Couliau, delved into the legendary playgrounds of New York, from the Rucker Park to the West 4th Street Courts, both have been sites to NBA greats Julius Erving and Kareem Abdul Jabbar to name a few.
“We caught all the creativity that the outdoor game has to offer – from kids playing in the street to tricky ball handling to inventive shooting games to the slang, the trash talk, the nicknames and the gear,” shared New York native and renowned DJ Garcia.
“Doin’ It in the Park is the kind of film that tells the most authentic kind of basketball story; it’s about playing anywhere, anytime. Nike basketball is about more than pro ball, it’s waking up and heading to the court with your friends and playing until the sun goes down. Bobbito and Kevin had the vision to put that on film, and we’re excited to have them in Manila to share their directorial debut with some of the most passionate basketball fans on the planet, said Nike Philippines Country Marketing Manager Courtney Cole-Faso.
Garcia and Couliau biked from park to park and in a span of 75 days during the summer with stops over in Harlem, Bronx and Brooklyn where they caught up with streetball legends James “Fly” Williams, Richard “Pee Wee” Kirkland and Earl Manigault, former NBA guards Kenny Anderson and Smush Parker and two-time NBA champion Kenny Smith among others.
The filmmakers also got an unexpected treat when they stumbled upon Milwaukee Bucks star point guard Brandon Jennings strutting his stuff at West 4th Street.
Garcia and Couliau, a Frenchman and acclaimed outdoor basketball photographer, also got access inside Rikers Island Prison Yard in Queens where it showed how basketball is more than just a sport.
Beyond the trash-talking, ball wizardry and highlight reels, really, the film gave the sport of basketball a whole new meaning in showcasing the culture of New York streetball and its essence.
And just like in New York City, Manila is also known for its love for the game. Garcia and Couliau had heard about the city being a basketball hotbed but still they were surprised by the popularity of the sport here after seeing it first hand for the first time.
“Well if I share what I saw, I’m telling everyone here what they already know. But what I can say is that I’ve traveled to 35 countries to play basketball throughout five continents and I have never been so impacted on such an immediate basis by the feverish pitch that exists here in Manila,” marveled Garcia during the director Q&A.
“It’s definitely something special when every single court we went to was packed and even in New York where it’s generally considered as the mecca of the outdoor sport but it’s 90 degrees outside and the humidity is like 90 percent. People wait a little to the evening until the court cools off to play but here it was 12 ‘o clock and every single court we went to was packed,” Garcia added.
“You have something special here in Manila and I’m sure you’re all aware of it but from the outside view it’s amazing, it’s really amazing. You should really feel good about it. We are honored to have shared our film here particularly.”