| 06.27.2019 – Basketball is the Philippines’ National sport despite most Filipinos lack the height they showed true passion when they catch the games live or on the telly.
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has become the biggest sports league on the planet that it is aired in the country. There have been famed NBA basketball players that visited the country, but none of them have made the trip so many times like James Harden. The 2018 NBA Most Valuable Player is the shooting guard for the Houston Rockets and finally made everyone Filipinos night when adidas made it happen. |
The Free to Harden campaign from adidas was the event that brought back James Edward Harden Jr. to the Philippines. There’s a strong following to Harden since being drafted third overall pick by the Oklahoma City Thunder and earning the 2012 Sixth Man of the year honor.
After being traded to the Houston Rockets in 2013 he established himself as a prolific scorer for his new team. Making “Fear the Beard” as his trademark he has become a familiar face in the NBA with his step back jump shots as one of his signature moves.
The SMX Convention Centre was packed to the rafters awaiting James Harden who was toured to adidas stores and a special event for PWDs somewhere in the city. The media was situated at Level 4 convention hall as early as 3 PM in the afternoon, while long lines gathered downstairs for the Free to Harden event, where to get the chance to see the man to be part of the “Free To Harden Freestyle Hub” by getting a ₱5,000.00 Philippine Pesos single receipt purchase in participating adidas stores.
In the midst of an emotional tensed Wednesday the invited media where patient enough to be able to see James Harden in the intimate setting, where he answers prepared questions sent out by the media prior to the set date of the event. The organizers have serve dinner earlier while they wait for the NBA Superstar.
It was almost 8PM that James Harden arrived with his entourage at the SMX Convention Center that he claims the traffic was the only terrible thing he has experience in this country. He was chill talking to the media now in comparison to his first trip to the country after being traded to his current team almost six seasons ago. Most of the people inside the conference now is a bit relaxed at the same time readied their recording devices when he finally emerged to the tiny stage with the couch in front as the host named Suzie called his name.
It only had taken less than 15 minutes to wrap up all the pleasantries when all the things said and done. He was impressed by the country’s passion for basketball and seeing people’s inspiration by his game was a huge thing for Harden. His short stay gave him a perspective and hopefully next season will be a better one for him and the Houston Rockets. By the time he headed out the conference hall several media groups sprinted to the nearest escalator down to the main convention hall where the huge crowd anxiously waited for the man himself.
Like all Filipino-related festivities with a foreign guest there are so much pageantry with mini-games and other chatter and discussion with the special guest that took so much time that some have left after seeing James Harden emerged from the curtains. Of course, the event went off without hitch, but it was a bit late now that most stores in the area started closing and the event was done before 10 PM.
There was so many tensely hours waiting for James Harden and it was good fans where patient enough since they all spent for a single purchase just to see this basketball player that is already en route back to the US.
The overall experience for a fan would have been astounding to say the least despite of the late hours that the event had begun. Adidas had another successful event bringing another NBA player not to mention a Superstar in the calibre of James Harden who showed appreciation for the country despite being stuck in traffic.
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