NBA 3X Philippines 2018 presented by AXA wrapped up on Sunday, August 26, but this is one NBA 3X that will live long and maybe forever in my memory.
First reason is that this is the first NBA three-on-three tournament in its eight-year existence that spread its wings to the northern part of the country. A Northern Philippines elimination round was successfully staged at the covered courts and gym of Benguet State University amid the raging rain, sweeping winds and 17 degrees Centigrade weather caused by Habagat on August 11 and 12.
Second reason is that the game seems to get better and better. New teams joined up and showed their prowess. New champions were hailed and got the crowd excited about the various categories: Boys Under 13, Boys Under 16, Boys Under 18, Girls Under 18, Men’s Open and Women’s Open. It is here where the plan to stage eliminations outside Manila proved to be a great idea. Teams that qualified in the Northern Eliminations ended up champions in four of the six categories: Boys Under 13 (the Greyhounds of Baguio City), Girls Under 13 (Balon Dagupan), Boys Under 16 (St. Louis University) and the Men’s Open (University of Luzon-Dagupan Team A).
Third reason is that the White Mamba, Brian Scalabrine, came to town for NBA 3X together with five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway Sr. and the jaw-dropping fly boys of the Detroit Piston’s Flight Crew, an aerial dunk and acrobatics team. For a Celtics fan like myself, the arrival here of an honest-to-goodness Boston Celtic who was on the 2008 champion squad alongside Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, PJ Brown, Eddie House, Leon Powe, James Posey, Tony Allen and Sam Cassell was like standing on the parquet floor at TD Garden.
Scalabrine, who thrived for 11 seasons in the NBA, didn’t disappoint. Straight out of the plane at almost 11 in the morning of August 23, he jumped right into an animated tete-a-tete with selected sports media an hour-and-a-half later, showing not even a hint of jet lag even as he said, “I don’t even know what day it is. I came straight from the plane to here.”
He was warm and accommodating, chummy and direct to the point. No hemming, no hawing. Just sharp, honest answers, which the media appreciated. When they asked him for selfies, he did not just oblige, he took their phones and took the selfies himself—thanks to his long reach.
At the venue, he waved to the crowd often, high-fived spectators on the side, patted little kids’ heads and, yes, took their phones to give them their selfies, with him clicking the button most of the time.
He was game, and sometimes naughty. At a fans’ game of two-ball where he and Tim Hardaway teamed up with one fan each to shoot as many balls into the goal for a set time limit, he connived with his partner to make only lay-ups when the game allowed the players to “shoot from any spot you want.” Scal and his pal won that game, of course, even if Tim’s team made one or two more long shots than their opponent.
Here’s what retired player Scal, now a television analyst for NBC Sports Boston, said on many things that media asked him about last weekend:
On the Celtics’ 2008 NBA Championship: “Eight of 10 people picked the Lakers to beat us that year. I was surprised that they did because, if you look at our numbers, we were the greatest defensive team ever assembled. We did have that 39-point win over them in Game Six. But then in 2010, they had that look in their eye that they didn’t have in 2008. Derek Fisher for one, he was playing like his life was on the line. So they really came prepared for us in 2010. And I have lots of respect for what they did.”
On playing with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo: “I am amazed at what those people bring to work every day. They put incredible minutes on the floor and even out of it. Taking five-mile hikes everyday, the level of commitment that they show, I was completely changed just by watching those guys. KG’s focus, Paul’s dedication, Ray’s hard work…I think I raised my IQ just by being around Rajon Rondo.”
On Kevin Garnett: “For 60 minutes before and after a game, he’s so focused, so hyper-focused.
His mind-set completely changes, and he can’t think of anything else but going out there and winning. But outside of games, he’s the most caring individual who cares about coaches and every body on the team. He holds people together. Even when we lose, KG with his long arms gathers everyone. He reminds us that we must sacrifice for the good of all. I’ve never been around a more selfless individual than Garnett.”
On his advice for bench players: “Find out what you’re good at. Focus on that. Be good at that. And keep trying to improve on what you do.”
On Filipino fans: “I’ve heard a lot about the Filipino passion for basketball. And now that I’ve seen it for myself, it’s all true! I love that basketball is the No. 1 sport here. Everywhere you go, you see basketball goals and advertisements about basketball. You see Steph Curry and LeBron’s faces in stores, and I like that. I’ve watched the PBA. This is really basketball country.”
On the Celtics’ forthcoming NBA season: “It’s going to be awesome. I’d be surprised if they didn’t make the Finals.”
On whether the Golden State Warriors are good for the league: “Yes. Because everybody else is building up. They make the league better.”