TAYLOR Statham says the biggest motivation for him in his quest of making it to the PBA is exposing his newborn son to his mother's homeland, a country which growing up he only knew from afar.
"I want him to experience his roots," Statham told Radyo5's Power and Play with Noli Eala.
The 28-year-old Fil-Am forward, who traces his roots in Iloilo, believes that the timing is just right for him to declare for the upcoming PBA Rookie Draft.
After all, his overseas travails only made him a better player which, to his belief, will allow him to make an impact once he's in the league.
"I wouldn't trade my journey for anything," he said. "Just being able to play day-in and day-out in other countries and play in different leagues, learn different cultures helped me grow as a person and as a player."
The 6-foot-6 forward has played against elite competition and teamed up with world-class players while suiting up in Canada, China, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as the Philippines in the Fiba 3x3 World Tour.
"Being an import and playing with imports who played in the NBA just improved our skills and IQ," he said.
"If I went to the PBA straight from college, I don't think I would be ready as the player I am now cause for the past five years, I've grown tremendously. These experiences have shaped us to who we are and we're heading to the peak of our playing days."
That's just what Statham wants his son, and in a way, his family to experience as he tests his luck in the PBA.
To him, it's not just a realization of a dream, but also a fulfillment of a lifetime as he reconnects to the country where his mother's side came from.
"Coming to the Philippines helped me grow as a person, just so much than basketball," he said.
"The relationship I have with my girl and my son, I want him to get that experience cause I wouldn't be the same person had I not gone to the Philippines. I understood where my grandmother comes from and my mother as well and how proud I made them feel when I represented the Philippines is something I'll never forget. So this is extremely important for me."
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