SA isa pang pagkakataon, muling nakaharap ng sambayanan si NBA Most Valuable Player James Harden ng Houston Rockets sa kanyang pagbabalik sa Manila nitong Hunyo 25 bilang bahagi ng Adidas Asia Summer Tour.

Hindi magkamayaw ang saya ng basketball fans nang muling masilayan ang 29-anyos five-time All-Star sa iba;t ibang programa at basketball activity tampok ang Free To Harden Freestyle Hub nitong Miyerkules sa SMX Convention Center.

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"It's great to be back in the Philippines and I'm thankful to Adidas and my fans for the warm welcome. I'm already looking forward to my next trip back here," pahayag ni Harden.

Sinimulan ni Harden ang pagbisita sa bansa sa pakikipagharap sa mga estudyante ng University of the Philippines kung saan nagsagawa ang Adidas nang pasasaayos ng basketball court sa College of Human Kinetics department. Nakaharap niya rin ang mga miyembro ng National Wheelchair Basketball Team at UP Women's Basketball team.

"I look at my step back and at the level that I've taken it to. I see it everywhere, especially in kids who are exploring it and trying to be more creative. Step back was already a move but the way it has evolved, it just continues to grow," pahayag ni Harden sa media conference kung saan natalakay ang kanyang kakaibang istilo sa opensa.

Inamin din ng third overall pick sa 2009 NBA Draft na ‘learning lesson’ para sa Rockets ang kabiguan sa Golden State Warriors sa semifinals ng West Conference at inaasahan niyang mas magiging handa ang Rockets sa pagbubukas ng season.

"We just gotta stay healthy. That was one of the reasons that kind of set us back this past year. Health is something you really can't control, its basketball. Injuries happen. We just got to continue getting better. Myself, Chris (Paul) and everybody that's on the roster. Come back a little bit better and fill up the pieces that we need to fill," sambit ni Harden.

"We gave ourselves a chance last year, we fell short. So we got to make the team better. It doesn't stop. We just have to come back and be stronger and better. We can't dwell on the past, we can't be sad about it. We got to continue to push until we reach our goal," aniya.

Nagkaroon ng pagkakataon ang ilang Pinoy cagers at collegiate stars na makasama si Harden sa ilang aktibidad sa Free To Harden Freestyle Hub, kabilang sina Kobe Paras, Bright Akhuetie, Jerrick Ahanmisi, Renzo Subido, Troy Rike, at Roosevelt Adams, PBA players Rashawn McCarthy at Rey Nambatac.