Stephen Curry basking in the warm reception of Filipinos

NBA CHAMPION STEPHEN CURRY of the Golden State Warriors said he appreciates the warmth that Filipino fans give him every time he is here in the Philippines. — ALVIN S. GO

NATIONAL Basketball Association superstar and champion Stephen Curry made his second trip to the Philippines at the weekend and once again was warmly received by Filipino fans, which the All-Star guard said he greatly appreciates and good enough reason to plan his return back.
Part of his Asian Tour for sporting brand Under Armour, the Golden State Warriors guard, who won his third NBA title, last season, met members of media on Friday morning before holding an activity for fans at the Mall of Asia Arena.
He also graced the opening of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines on Saturday, where he led the oath of sportsmanship and had the UAAP-dom as a captive audience.
Spending more time than his first visit back in 2015, Mr. Curry said the visit was all the more special as he got to experience the appreciation of the fans and absorb the Filipino culture and what the city has to offer.
“It feels great to be back here after three years. There is so much support here in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia for what we do on the court and what I do and what I represent,” said Mr. Curry at the press conference held for him at Kerry Sports at the Bonifacio Global City.
“This time I have more time here to enjoy the culture and the city,” said Mr. Curry, who first visited the Philippines in 2015, fresh from Golden State’s title conquest at the expense of the LeBron James-led Cleveland Cavaliers.
The tremendous reception he once again got prompted Mr. Curry to say he is looking forward to returning back and hopefully “with more championships” to share with his Filipino fans.
GETTING READY
While also here, Mr. Curry, 30, who was also accompanied by NBA legend father Dell, shared that he is girding for the NBA training camp upon his return to the United States and they in the Warriors are setting their sights on winning a third straight NBA title, and fourth in the last five years.
“We want more. We want to accomplish the ultimate feat of winning a championship every single year. That is why you work so hard in the off-season. It is why you put in the hours every day to get the right mindset to get your body ready and take advantage of a very short basketball career and try win as many titles as you can,” said Mr. Curry, the two-time NBA most valuable player said.
But the five-time All-Star was quick to say though that they are expecting the road to another title to get even tougher, notwithstanding having their core back and boosted some more by the arrival of fellow All-Star DeMarcus Cousins in the fold.
“I feel excited. I feel that I met my peak as a player and I want to stay at that level as long as I can and keep pushing myself in that direction. I have great teammates, great organization to play for. We have an amazing opportunity to do something that is rarely done in the NBA that is to win three in a row. I’m excited about the challenge,” he said.
After the Philippines, Mr. Curry, is in Asia to promote the fifth iteration of his line of shoes with Under Armour, was also to visit Wuhan, China, and Tokyo, Japan. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo