National Basketball Association (NBA) star Ja Morant treated basketball fans in his first-ever visit to the Philippines, with some dance moves, high-flying dunks, and heartfelt fan interactions during an event Friday at The Courtyard.
The Memphis Grizzlies guard capped his third Nike signature tour, “Make Them Watch,” with Manila as the final stop. While Morant had no media availability, he gave fans plenty to cheer for both on and off the court.
The NBA All-Star made a unique entrance riding a hoop jeepney and immediately embraced the local basketball culture.
“It’s been good. Everybody has been very welcoming and loving to me and my fam. I’m super excited to be here,” Morant said.
During the event, he granted one fan’s birthday wish by pulling him from the stands for a photo and gifting him a pair of Ja 3s. Another supporter, sporting a tattoo of Morant’s face, received the guard’s autograph on the same spot as preparation for his next tattoo session.
Morant also joined Filipino dancers in performing the “griddy” before wowing the crowd with two powerful dunks. He even interrupted the Team Barangay vs. Team La Salle exhibition game, catching an alley-oop from his crew and finishing with a thunderous slam. Fans chanted for more, and Morant delivered with a soaring two-handed dunk.
Morant, the 2020 Rookie of the Year and 2022 Most Improved Player, shared the floor with San Miguel’s Jeron Teng, Phoenix’s Ricci Rivero, and La Salle’s Marga Jimenez.
Rhenz Abando led Team Barangay and earned a high five from Morant after his own dunk, playing alongside CJ Cansino, Jack Animam and viral Palarong Pambansa standout Andrei Ugaddan. / RSC