Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
All Scores
Odds by

Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant show off in Philippines exhibition

NBA's Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant dun

NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant dunks the ball in an exhibition game with Filipino basketball players during the Ultimate All-Star Weekend at Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City Metro Manila on July 23, 2011. The proceeds from the exibition game will help Philippine sports and develop Filipino athletes into becoming world-class competitors. AFP PHOTO/NOEL CELIS (Photo credit should read NOEL CELIS/AFP/Getty Images)

NOEL CELIS

Saturday, NBA basketball was back. Okay, not really. But NBA players (or former, I guess, considering they’re locked out) played in the Philippines on Saturday in an exhibition against the PBA All-Stars. It was a huge event, with a raucous Filipino crowd chanting and cheering everything. Honestly, it was louder than about 95% of all arenas in the NBA. Let’s just say Kobe doesn’t get that kind of reception from his crowd, in-between taco chants. From the Philippino Star:

In return, Kobe Bryant and company, playing under the banner of SMART All-Star team, put on a show to remember, drubbing the PBA stars, 131-105, in the kickoff game of the Ultimate All-Star Weekend at the full-packed Araneta Coliseum tonight.

The game’s result was a foregone conclusion but the crowd waited with bated breath just every move the NBA stars made.

They were more exciting and more adorable up close and personal.

Also awed and thrilled were the PBA stars.


via NBA stars treat fans to memorable show - Home » Other Sections » Breaking News.

JaVale McGee led the way (who saw that coming?) with 25 points, including about seventeen missed layups and one coast-to-coast jam, while Kevin Durant has 22 and Derrick Williams 19. Derrick Rose had only nine points, but then, he didn’t have to score after this jam.

And not to be outdone, KD and James Harden got in the act:

A great time was had by all and another exhibition is set for tomorrow. It should serve as a reminder that these are the best players in the world, and they are irreplaceable. Their talents only last the length of their careers and we should appreciate them while we can.

Ahem... owners... ahem.