I remember watching my first NBA game as a kid in Manila, the energy in the room was electric even though we were just gathered around a television screen. There's something special about seeing players who share your heritage compete at the highest level of basketball. This connection has only grown stronger in recent years as more athletes with Filipino ancestry have been making their mark in the NBA and international basketball circuits. Just last month, I was following the news about LA Tenorio coaching the Philippine national under-16 team in Mongolia, and it struck me how much the landscape has evolved for Filipino-blooded players in global basketball.
The journey of Filipino-blooded NBA players isn't just about individual success stories—it's about changing perceptions of what Asian athletes can achieve in a sport dominated by different physical archetypes. When I look at players like Jordan Clarkson, who's been absolutely phenomenal for the Utah Jazz, averaging 20.8 points per game last season, it's clear we're witnessing a shift in the basketball world. What many people don't realize is that Clarkson's mother is Filipino, and his connection to the Philippines runs deep—he's represented the country in international competitions and has become something of a national hero back home. Then there's Jalen Green, whose mother is also Filipino, and who was the second overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. I've been particularly impressed with Green's development with the Houston Rockets, where he's already showing flashes of becoming a future superstar.
What's fascinating to me is how these players are influencing basketball development back in the Philippines. The recent news about LA Tenorio coaching the national under-16 team in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the continental meet running from August 31 to September 7 demonstrates this connection. Tenorio himself is a legendary figure in Philippine basketball, and his involvement with youth development signals how seriously the country is taking its basketball future. I've noticed that when these NBA stars visit the Philippines or express their Filipino heritage publicly, it creates waves of inspiration among young athletes there. The basketball courts in Manila become packed with kids trying to emulate Jordan Clarkson's crossover or Jalen Green's athletic finishes at the rim.
The impact extends beyond just the NBA too. There are numerous players in collegiate basketball and other professional leagues who are starting to get recognition. I recently read about a study suggesting that approximately 38 players of Filipino descent were competing in NCAA Division I basketball last season, which is a significant increase from just five years ago. While I can't verify that exact number, the trend is undeniable. Even in the NBA G League, we're seeing more Filipino-blooded players getting opportunities, which creates a pipeline for future NBA talent. What excites me most is that this is just the beginning—with improved training facilities in the Philippines and greater exposure to international competition, I believe we'll see even more Filipino-blooded players reaching the highest levels of basketball.
Having followed basketball in the Philippines for decades, I can confidently say that the current moment represents a golden era for Filipino representation in the sport. The success of these players isn't accidental—it's the result of cultural factors merging with increased access to quality coaching and development programs. Basketball has always been the most popular sport in the Philippines, but now there are clearer pathways for talented athletes to reach professional levels abroad. The continental meet in Mongolia that Tenorio is coaching at represents exactly this kind of opportunity for exposure and development. These young players get to compete against international talent and learn from someone who's succeeded at the highest levels of Asian basketball.
What often gets overlooked in discussions about Filipino-blooded NBA players is how they're changing the business side of basketball too. I've noticed jersey sales in Southeast Asia skyrocketing whenever these players have breakout performances, and the NBA has definitely taken notice. The league's efforts to grow its brand in the Philippines and among Filipino communities worldwide have been bolstered by having these cultural ambassadors within the game. From my perspective, this creates a virtuous cycle—more representation leads to more interest, which leads to more investment in development programs, which produces more talented players.
I'm particularly optimistic about the future because the current generation of Filipino-blooded NBA players is still relatively young. Clarkson is 30, Green is just 21—they have years of high-level basketball ahead of them. Meanwhile, new talents are emerging through the ranks, both in the Philippines and abroad. The coaching stint of LA Tenorio with the national youth team in Mongolia might seem like a small story in the grand scheme of basketball, but to me, it's symbolic of the broader development happening behind the scenes. These youth competitions are where future stars are discovered and developed.
As someone who's witnessed the evolution of Filipino representation in basketball firsthand, I can't help but feel proud of how far we've come. When I was growing up, having a Filipino-blooded player in the NBA seemed like a distant dream. Now, we have multiple players making significant impacts, and the pipeline of talent seems stronger than ever. The success of these athletes does more than just win games—it inspires millions of young Filipinos worldwide to pursue their basketball dreams, knowing that the path to the NBA is becoming more accessible. The continental meet in Mongolia might be happening thousands of miles away, but its significance resonates deeply within Filipino basketball communities everywhere, representing another step forward in our basketball journey.