STEVEN Guinchard certainly feels right at home playing in the PBA for guest team Eastern in the ongoing Commissioner’s Cup.
The 6-foot-5 shooting guard is a Filipino at heart, having married Filipina Jessrine Celiz four months ago in a beach wedding ceremony held in the beautiful island of Siargao.
His wife and some members of their family were at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday night to cheer for Guinchard in Eastern’s game against the Converge FiberXers.
READ Eastern stays unbeaten, deals Converge a deflating defeat
No wonder the 31-year-old wingman played inspired ballgame in a 117-106 win, the second straight for the Hong Kong-based team in the mid-season conference.
“My wife is Filipina, so I’m pretty familiar (with the Philippines),” said Guinchard, who disclosed proposing to his wife last year in Butuan City.
Hearing her say 'yes' felt like winning the championship, he added.
Guinchard finished with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the floor, including 2-of-2 from beyond the arc and 2-of-3 from four-point range.
He said there is more of those shots from his arsenal.
“Looking at my teammates and seeing them all celebrating and being happy are what makes me still want to make more of those 4-point shots. Seeing your team being together like that makes me wanting even more,” said the French-Taiwanese native.
Of course, Eastern coach Mensur Bairamovic is not exactly a fan of the novelty shot, but Guinchard said he’s just happy seeing his shots go in.
“I don’t want to really focus on that, but if it comes, then shoot it. If you’re open, shoot it. One day it goes in, one day it does not,” he added.
His hot shooting night certainly got the attention of Filipino basketball fans, more so now that people have learned about his Filipina wife.
“My wife and her family had been watching the PBA since forever, and they know more than I do, having been familiar with the PBA,” said Guinchard.
A product of Emmanuel College, Guinchard has played professionally in France, Taiwan with the Fubon Braves, and of course, with Eastern.
“I played in the ABL (ASEAN Basketball League) before against Alab Pilipinas,” he recalled.
Having been very familiar now with the country and with the Filipino way of life, Guinchard has learned to embrace the Philippine culture.
He hasn’t been familiar talking in Tagalog, though, but more on Visayan dialect.
“I know Visaya. I know Visaya than Tagalog,” he said in between laughs.
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