AJ Mandani. Photo by Tristan Tamayo/INQUIRER.net
For AJ Mandani, playing in Philippine soil is as special as it gets.
After last playing for Kia in the PBA, Mandani made his return to the Philippines as a member of the Singapore Slingers in the ASEAN Basketball League Wednesday night and he made sure his homecoming was memorable.
Mandani drilled the dagger triple with 1:52 left in the game to give Slingers an 85-76 lead en route to the 90-80 win over Alab Pilipinas in front of a large home crowd.
The 5-foot-11 guard said it’s the feeling of home that allowed him to make the shot.
“It’s great man,” said Mandani. “There’s something about the environment, something about the air that just helps me make my shots.”
“I knew the crowd was going to be crazy, and we knew that we didn’t want to let the atmosphere shake us up. We just had to stick together.”
And there were other people besides Mandani’s teammates that helped him ease his nerves.
Mandani’s family and girlfriend were in attendance in San Juan and so was Globalport forward Kelly Nabong.
“I have my girlfriend with me, my girlfriend’s mother flew in from Canada, and I got my brother Kelly, and all my relatives from Tanay,” said Mandani. “Of course they were a factor in my inspired play. It’s just good to have family here to support.”
In the two games that Mandani played in the Philippines, he has averaged 20 points on 50 percent shooting.