The National Basketball Association (NBA) celebrated Philippine culture with world champion boxer Manny Pacquiao as the Los Angeles (LA) Clippers threw Filipino Heritage Night at the Staples Center last Tuesday, January 8.
On the same night, the Clippers received a victory against the Charlotte Hornets with the score ending at 129-109, but before the game, basketball lover Pacquiao also made sure to meet the home team’s stars Tobias Harris, Lou Williams, and Patrick Beverly, along with LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers, who shared how the athlete-turned-politician handed him a pair of boxing gloves more than 15 years ago.
During the game, Pacquiao was broadcasted on the venue’s big screen as well, where he was applauded by fans. While throwing Clippers merchandise to the audience during the game, Pacquiao encountered rival Floyd Mayweather. The team’s social media posted a video captioned, “They meet again. Only here,” tagging both boxers. The two are then seen shaking hands.
Pacquiao is currently in the United States of America (USA) in anticipation of his match against American boxer Adrien Broner at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on January 19. He is looking to defend his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight crown. Mayweather, on the other hand, recently defeated Japanese boxer Tenshin Nasukawa in Saitama, Japan during an exhibition. No updates yet, however, on whether the rumoured rematch between Pacquiao and Mayweather will continue.
During half-time of the Clippers-Hornets face-off, representing the Philippines, Black Eyed Peas’ artist apl.de.ap performed his band’s hit “I Gotta Feeling” with former The Voice Philippines finalist Jessica Reynoso. As a word of inspiration to his fellow Filipinos, he says in a mix of English and Filipino, “Thank you for your support. Without you, there wouldn’t be us. You make us proud all the time and that’s why I will always shout ‘Filipino’ around the world.” His performing partner added, “Keep working hard towards your goals, there’s no limitations for all of us.”