By REYNALD MAGALLON
Former NBA player Carmelo Anthony didn’t only take time touring around Manila but also made sure to reconnect with some of his Filipino friends.
Anthony, who was in the country after being introduced by FIBA as its new ambassador for the FIBA World Cup which the country will be hosting along with Japan and Indonesia, also took time out to visit College of St. Benilde juniors guard Santi Romero.
It turned out the former Lakers star is good friends with the young La Salle guard as they share the same conditioning coach in New York and stayed in the same apartments in 2021 and early 2022. Anthony actually even visited Romero in their house at the posh Makati subdivision and stayed there for seven hours talking about basketball.
It was at Romero’s house where he was able to talk to boxing icon Manny Pacquiao through phone courtesy of Rep. Mikee Romero.
Santi Romero’s friends, including La Salle-Zobel’s Champ Arejola and father Erick, were glad to personally see and greet one of NBA’s certified stars.
As for Anthony’s relationship with Pacquiao, the future NBA Hall of Famer and the boxing icon are good pals with the Filipino pride even receiving a signed game ball from Anthony when he watched one of his games at the Madison Square Garden in New York in 2014.
“Manny, I’ve been looking for four days straight and I heard you’re on a basketball court. Hope you put up some buckets man. I see you next time I get out here, when you’re in America you know where to find me. Talk to you soon brother,” said Anthony in a video message to Pacquiao which was taken by Romero.
Pacquiao did put up some buckets on the court as the boxing Icon finished with 35 points including a clutch layup to lift Team Bulalakaw to a 72-70 victory over Batangas City in the MPBL preseason Invitational in General Santos City.
Anthony was also in attendance at Gilas Pilipinas’ 107-96 victory over Lebanon at the Philippine Arena, just a few days after he roamed around Manila visiting tourist spots in Rizal Park and Intramuros.
