ASPIRING basketball pros in the Philippines may explore the horizons and travel beyond the PBA by trying out other pro leagues.
One of them is the Pilipinas Super League, featuring teams from various provinces or cities in the country.
However it's not just limited to professional ballers as displayed by Top Tier, Lipa Batangas Stallions, who stirred a lot of controversy after acquiring a different flavor in assembling their squad.
Enter content creator and now professional basketball player, Harmz Hui aka Mr. Long Bomb, the so-called Steph Curry of the Philippines?
But why is he compared to the Golden State Warriors star? Or better yet, is there anyone, outside of himself and his inner circle, who takes those claims seriously?
Steph Curry ng Pinas?
Watching his YouTube videos, Mr. Long Bomb got his monicker from his insane shooting range, something that can rival those of Steph Curry or a high school version of LaMelo Ball.
He can shoot the ball almost anywhere from beyond the arc, even from the half-way line - not exactly make them, consistently. His shooting form boasts a quick release and a high arc.
At one point in his career in local community leagues, Long Bomb recorded a career high, amounting to 177 points in Moonwalk Basketball League (MBL), surpassing Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's 138 point masterstroke.
If that's not enough, Long Bomb supposedly recorded 11 rebounds, 16 steals, 20 assists, and 36 points from three point territory.
Hui even said on the interview with Press Break: "Naisip ko si Steph Curry kasi totoo magaling siya pero hindi niya kaya yung range ko. Kaya niya bang tumira ng consistent na half-court shot na ganoon kalayo na lagi niyang gagawin sa game? In-game kasi pinag-uusapan natin dito e. Dapat kaya niya yun, dapat gawin niya yun."
He added: "Which is para kaya sinabi ko na mas magaling ako sa kanya kasi ginagawa ko na e. Siya puro siya ritual game lang."
A controversial figure?
And it didn't just end there as Long Bomb made another statement centered on the 4-point line, saying: "For me ako talaga yung nagsimula ng four-point dito sa Pilipinas kung alam mo lang." Then when talking about the jersey he wore during his 177-point game, Long Bomb said that his jersey is valued at P1 million.
His statements stirred a lot of negative feedback and this was further echoed with some of the criticisms surrounding him. Was it true that Hui scored 177 points because everything was allegedly rigged?
Rigged or not, one thing that's undeniable is that he's not shying away from taking his shots - evident in some of the stats which surfaced, one where he had a grand total of 99 shots (he made 14), including going 13-98 from the three-point line.
Take that as you must.
PSL debut
Then came his foray into the PSL and not a few fans were enraged that a content creator ended up joining a professional basketball league.
Long Bomb made his debut against the GenSan Warriors last January 7, 2025, where he failed to score a single point. He was given a chance with a free throw attempt which he whiffed.
During that match, Long Bomb was heavily guarded as he couldn't land any room to shoot his signature long distance shots, plus defenses were physical against him.
Given what has transpired, many would argue that Long Bomb's slot should've been given to someone deserving...or perhaps he could prove them wrong and play decently n his next game. If he can.
And while people continue to talk about Mr. Long Bomb the player, most of them negatively, Hui has ventured into other fields ranging from lifestyle and even music, where he even has a rap video centered on his...greatness?
But the question begs to be asked: Is he a serious player or a plain circus act?
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