It was a long wait but NBA superstar Stephen Curry delivered on his promise to return to the Philippines and enthrall thousands of his supporters.
Curry last visited Manila in 2015 right after Golden State won the Larry O’Brien trophy and this year’s trip also followed another championship for the Warriors, who have gained a big fan base here in this basketball-crazy country.
“It feels great, so much support here in the Philippines in what I do in the basketball court,” said Curry Friday during a showcase at Mall of Arena Arena as part of the Philippine stop for his Under Armour Asia Tour.
“I told everyone at MOA Arena that I will be back and it took a long time to get back.”
Curry capped the first day of his visit with some hoops and some jukes as he danced and played alongside current PBA players.
Heads up MMDA, Steph (@StephenCurry30) does the In My Feelings challenge! #WiredDifferent #SC30AsiaTour pic.twitter.com/FPyT95r3TQ
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 7, 2018
Amateur players from the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand played in a couple of 3×3 games divided into girls and boys’ divisions.
There was also skills course featuring PBA players Poy Erram, Troy Rosario, Mark Barroca, and PJ Simon, who won the exhibition, and shootout contest starring Marc Pingris, Christian Luanzon, Harvey Carey, Willie Miller, and their sons.
Miller and his son topped the preliminaries which was also participated by Stanley Pringle, Von Pessumal, and Fiba 3×3 3-point shootout champion Janine Pontejos.
Steph and Dell winning the father and son shootout contest. #WiredDifferent #SC30AsiaTour | @BLozadaINQ pic.twitter.com/GZzRR2HKRW
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 7, 2018
Curry joined the action to the delight of the fans, but lost to Simon in their skills course.
But teaming up with his father Dell, Curry showcased his sweet shooting stroke and defeated Miller in the culmination of the shootout contest.