The Philippines boasts a large Los Angeles Lakers fan base, and Team USA guard Austin Reaves thoroughly enjoyed the warm reception from the fans.
Among the Team USA players, it was the Los Angeles starter who garnered the loudest cheers from Pinoy fans in attendance during their 99-72 victory over New Zealand.
Coming into the tournament, Lakers assistant coach Phil Handy had already told the third-year pro on how basketball-crazy the Philippines is.
Handy was in the country for his basketball clinics a little over a month ago.
“I was talking to Phil Handy, and he was telling me that they love the Lakers out here, so I kind of saw it coming,” he remarked about the outpouring of support whenever he was on the court.
“It’s special for me.”
Reaves had an efficient 22-minute appearance, concluding with 12 points and six assists, while shooting perfectly from beyond the arc.
He played an instrumental role for Team USA, who found themselves trailing by as much as 10 points early in the first half.
Participating in his first World Cup, Reaves expressed how much he cherishes this once-in-a-lifetime experience that he had long been dreaming of.
“Every kid wants to be on this stage. I was one of those kids watching the World Cup, the Olympics. Every day I wake up, I cherish those moments (of being here),” he shared.
“I don’t take them for granted.”
And as the tournament progresses, expect more and more fans to come and watch them at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.
