Fil-Am Jordan Clarkson wowed by warm welcome of Pinoy basketball fans

Before coming to the Philippines, Fil-Am NBA player Jordan Clarkson already had an idea how overwhelming the support of the basketball-crazy Filipino community can be.

The Los Angeles Lakers guard already experienced mingling with Pinoy fans in Detroit during the Filipino Heritage Night last year, but even that could not prepare him for his trip to his mother's home country.

"I've been feeling it the whole year, through social media and stuff, how big it is. Now coming out here and actually seeing it, it's awesome," Clarkson told reporters in an interview on Saturday at the NBA Store in Glorietta 3, Makati City.

"It's just crazy, man, how much effect basketball has on people out here," he added. "It's just a good feeling."

Clarkson, who was recently named part of the NBA All-Rookie team, said that having Filipinos behind his back means a lot to him as a source of motivation to improve his game.

"I don't play for myself anymore," he said. "It's great and I love the support."

The 22-year-old Clarkson arrived on Thursday with Utah Jazz guard Trey Burke and NBA legend Horace Grant to host viewing parties of the playoffs and conduct an NBA Cares basketball clinic.

Asked what was the best part of the trip for him so far, he said that interacting with 60 underprivileged kids in Tondo, Manila made him realize how blessed he is to be surrounded with people with so much passion for basketball.

Now made aware of his status as the symbol of local players' aspirations to make it to the NBA, Clarkson vowed to represent the Filipinos well in the oldest and most popular basketball league in the world.

"That's what drives me every day," he said. "I gotta work hard and continue to do good things so that I continue to be that person that they look up to." - RAF, GMA News

 

Most fun I have had in a long time, such a joy being a part of this. #nbacares

A photo posted by Jordan Clarkson (@jclark5on) on

May 22, 2015 at 9:41pm PDT