A YEAR after, Hayden Blankley is back in the country.
The former Bay Area Dragons gunner flew in to town on Tuesday with the rest of the New Taipei Kings for their EASL rematch with the Meralco Bolts.
Blankley said the humid Manila weather and the adoring basketball fans at the airport were the first to welcome him and the Kings.
READ Jeremy Lin, New Taipei Kings in Manila for EASL rematch with Meralco
“Just got off the plane, and its crazy hot, very humid. So that’s a little memory of mine of the Philippines. (But) I like it,” said the 6-foot-6 gunner in an EASL reel shot shortly after the Kings' arrival.
“Just seeing the people outside at the airport, that was cool,” he added of the warm welcome received by the Kings, featuring former NBA player Jeremy Lin, upon arrival.
“They’re so invested in basketball players because they love basketball here.”
Blankley is one of the Dragon’s most reliable outside shooters during the team’s stint in last year’s PBA Commissioner’s Cup, where the top-seeded guest team from Hong Kong battled Barangay Ginebra in a memorable title series that ended in a do-or-die Game 7, which the Kings won, 114-99, before a record crowd 54,589 at the Philippine Arena.
He considered the finals as his most cherished experience in the team’s more than six-month stay in the country.
“Fave experience for me is definitely the finals against Ginebra. I think that was an iconic series,” admitted Blankley.
“And Game 7 was just crazy. Just the fact that we played in front of so many people, that’s one I like to live for sure.”
At the same time, Blankley also praised Filipino basketball fans for their love for the game, which he said is like no other.
“The passion of the fans is a bit different. I play in front of Taiwanese fans now, but I still think Filipino fans like they live and breathe basketball,” he said. “They really show up and come and support their team for the games like crazy.”
Blankley hopes to see people troop to the Philsports Arena as the Kings and Bolts tangle anew, weeks after New Taipei scored a close win over Meralco, 97-92.
“We’d love to have you come out and support us and support your Meralco Bolts. Just make it a fun game,” he said. “Salamat po!”
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