Rajon Rondo may visit PH again, says long-time mentor

Boston Celtics’ Rajon Rondo PHOTO/AP

MANILA, Philippines – NBA star Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics has yet to leave the country but according to his long-time personal coach Doug Bibby coming back to the basketball hotbed Manila is a possibility.

Bibby, who has been with Rondo since the crafty playmaker’s high school days, said that they are “planning” to bring the Red Bull King of the Rock Asian Tour, which took part in Taiwan and Hong Kong recently, here next year.

After conducting a skills clinic with current UAAP and NCAA stars Tuesday at the Ronac Arts Center in San Juan, Rondo, this time, helped refurbish the basketball court of San Juan National High School before a rabid crowd in an event attended by city Mayor Guia Gomez, Vice Mayor Francis Zamora and Rep. JV Ejercito, who were later on handed out autographed basketballs by the lengthy six-foot-two product of University of Kentucky.

Among the frantic fans, who didn’t mind the humid weather and the sudden downpour that followed just to catch a glimpse of the three-time All-star, were Ivy Cruz and May Padilla, who admittedly taking a half day at work.

“Minsan lang si Rondo dito so why not grab the opportunity,” Ivy said. “Minsan lang siya pumunta dito,” May echoed.

Many waited for more than an hour and there were some who sat on top of the roofs of their houses just so they could get a good view of the surprisingly 21st pick of the 2006 Draft by the Phoenix Suns before a draft-day trade sent him to the Celtics.

The 26-year-old 2012 assists leader, then answered a few questions from his fans and even shared some of his techniques.

“I use the rim as my advantage,” Rondo said on how to get the better of his bigger defenders. “I put a lot of spin to the ball.”

Known also for his unorthodox style of play, Rondo, who catches his defenders off guard with his patented layup off the wrong foot, explained how he uses a behind-the-back pass to hit his often recipient in future Hall-of-Fame big man Kevin Garnett timely on a pick-and-roll.

Rondo and Garnett, together with Paul Pierce and erstwhile Celtics swingman Ray Allen led their team to an NBA championship in 2008 after beating fierce rival Los Angeles Lakers in six games.