Jeremy Lin found himself on a night full of nostalgia on his return to Manila.
The former NBA cager flew into town with New Taipei for their East Asia Super League (EASL) affair with Meralco and the hype was inevitably centered around him given, of course, the cultural phenomenon that was ‘Linsanity.’
Fans trooped to the Philsports Arena in Pasig on Wednesday night to witness him in the flesh and the reception he got brought back memories of his first visit to the country a decade ago when he was still playing in the Association.
It could be recalled that he and the Houston Rockets, then bannered by James Harden and Dwight Howard, played the Paul George-led Indiana Pacers in the NBA Global Games preseason offering at the Mall of Asia Arena in 2013.
While it was a whole different experience, there was still a commonality.
“When I came in 2013, it was with the NBA. It was with the Rockets and the Pacers. You’re talking about a whole different level, I mean that thing was… We literally could barely walk out of our hotel lobby,” he recalled.
“I remember we went to a mall, and there were like hundreds of people following us. That’s a different level of production and marketing and awareness but the enthusiasm, I mean, you just feel the enthusiasm everywhere you go.”
Another thing that gave Lin a smile of reminiscence was meeting a good pal in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who, together with his older bro Rahlir, paid him a visit in ULTRA and watched the game that saw New Taipei win, 89-77.
The two were once teammates in Brooklyn.
“He’s like a little brother,” he said of the TNT import. “Throughout my nine years in the NBA, he was one of my closest friends. Today is his birthday, and to come out on his birthday and bring his brother and family, it speaks volumes.
“He’s just a great guy. He’s killing it out here doing a great job and I know he’s having a lot of fun. I appreciate his support for the Kings.“
All that seemingly enabled Lin to perform well. He finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds, coming alive in the second half to help New Taipei turn things around on their way to staying on top of Group B with a pristine 3-0 record.
“It’s great to be here,” he beamed.
