NBA’s Kevin Love spends meaningful time with Manila kids, orphans

By: Celest Flores-Colina - 10 years ago

Video by Noy Morcoso lll/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — While the rest of the world was busy speculating where he’s headed next, NBA star Kevin Love spent his Friday morning doing something meaningful.

Love, who is in Manila for the first time, visited Manila Boystown in Marikina and conducted an hour-long basketball clinic with some 60 orphans from the community.

The Minnesota Timberwolves’ power forward was met with loud cheers from the participants and other kids in area, most of whom were still in school uniform, as he arrived at the refurbished court.

But shortly after his arrival, the rain threatened to pour and so the clinic was moved to a smaller indoor venue at one of the old buildings nearby.

Love and the rest of the coaches, including local hoops player Chris Tiu, had to make do with a cramped room, but laughter and cheers still filled the air once they began the drills.

The six-foot-10 Lake Oswego native spearheaded passing drills of the first group while the other three groups focused on other skills.

“I’m very excited to be part of this. I’m very excited to work with the kids. Hopefully we can have a lot of fun today,” Love said in a brief press conference before the event.

He reminded the kids, mostly orphans, to keep working hard because “big things are going to happen to you.”

Kevin Love sits beside Chris Tiu as they await the start of the basketball clinic at Manila Boystown on Friday. Celest Flores-Colina/INQUIRER.net

Love, whose rumored destination has been talk of the town in the world of hoops the past few days, didn’t answer free agency questions but gamely responded to NBA-related queries.

When asked who was the toughest to match-up against in the four spot, Love basically listed all elite power forwards in the Western Conference.

“In the Westen conference, it’s very tough when it comes to power forward position. You have Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldrige, Zach Randolph, Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, and that’s just the western conference.”

Love is in the country for the Master Game Face Challenge festivities, which culminates on Saturday with the ultimate all-star face-off that includes top players from the collegiate division and the PBA.