Ni Brian Yalung
HINDI man kasing ingay ng mga pamosong NBA player ang pagdating ni dating LA Lakers star Metta World Peace (dating Ron Artest), marami ang napabilib sa katauhan ng itinututing ‘bad boy’ ng NBA.
Sa pamamagitan nina player agent Sheryl Retyes at Kitson Kho, chairman ng SnippetMEdia, naimbitahan si Metta World Peace sa bansa nitong Biyernes upang magbahagi ng kanyang karanasan at ilang panuntunan na magagamit ng Pinoy basketball fans.
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“I feel like I am half-Filipino. My son (Jeron Artest) is a half-Filipino. So if he is Filipino, I am Filipino,” pahayag ni Peace.
“That is a connection I have with the country, being around his grandma and eating Filipino food (Halo-Halo and Adobo). “
Ibinida ni Peace na ang anak na si Jeron ay kumakatok sa pintuan ng National Team.
“I was never invited to play for the USA team, and I was never invited to play in the Olympics. They said they didn’t want a player like me on the team. That was tough for me since I wanted to play for the Olympics. Anytime you get the chance to the national team, I do feel that it is special,” pahayag ni Peace patungkol sa pagkakataon na makalaro sa bansa ang anak bilang isang Pinoy.
“Playing for your national team, there is something different about that,” aniya.
“He (Jeron) continues to work hard since I told him that not just because you are my son or from America, you are going to make the team. There are a lot of good players in the Philippines and you have to earn it,” sambit ni Peace.
“He (Jeron) is a pretty smart kid. I try not to get involved too much.
If they need I am there, if they don’t it’s ok. I’ll support them.”
Iginiit naman ni Peace na kaya pa niyang maglaro hanggang 45 anyos.
“I’m not going to get counted out. As of right now, I am not sure where I am going to play this year. It’s not hard for me to make an
NBA team, a Philippine team or a European team. I can do it in my sleep and I think I will play until I am about 45.”
