Fil-Am NBA rising star Jalen Green arrives in Manila to reconnect with his roots

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 10) – Rising NBA star Jalen Green is reconnecting with his Filipino roots as he returned to Manila on Wednesday.

Sportswear brand adidas Philippines announced Green’s homecoming is part of the JG4 Manila Tour, where the prolific Houston Rockets shooting guard is one of the brand’s global ambassadors.

“It is with great pride and excitement that adidas Philippines welcomes another NBA athlete — and most importantly one with Filipino roots — to the country,” adidas Philippines brand activation manager Jen Dacasin said in a statement released on Wednesday.

Green will have an exclusive press conference on Thursday at the adidas Brand Center in Glorietta 3 in Makati City.

In the afternoon, the upcoming sophomore Rockets guard will proceed to Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City for a tribute event where he will experience Philippine streetball, graffiti, and sports car culture.

Green visited the country twice as a high school baller and as part of the FilAm Sports USA team that competed in the 2018 and 2019 National Basketball Training Center Finals. The tournament showcased the best high school teams in the Philippines.

The 20-year-old Filipino American cager’s third visit is his first as an NBA player, where he capped off his stellar rookie season with per game averages of 17.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists.

The cager, who was picked second overall by the Rockets in the 2021 NBA Draft, won a spot in the 2022 All-Rookie First Team due to his outstanding performance in his first season in the league.

Green, whose mother Bree has roots in Ilocos Sur, is the third NBA player to have Filipino descent after retired Golden State Warriors point guard Raymond Townsend and current Utah Jazz combo guard Jordan Clarkson.