Steph, Carry On

NBA MVP Thanks Pinoy, Warriors Fans For Support

MANILA, Philippines — Stephen Curry looked very impressive during a shootaround, enjoyed a spoonful of the popular Filipino dessert “halo-halo” then talked about winning a third straight NBA crown.

The two-time MVP with the Golden State Warriors also thanked the Filipino fans for “all the love and support” during the first day of his short visit to the country.

Curry flew in at around 8:45 p.m. Thursday, and was met at the airport by a throng of fans, eager to see the hazel-eyed global superstar in the flesh.

“Coming out of the airport seeing like 250 fans trying to get a picture and something like that is the part that I still want to enjoy,” he said.

Curry is reaching out to as many fans across the globe. It’s his second visit to Manila since 2015. From here he flies to Wuhan, China and Tokyo, Japan.

It’s all part of the Under Armour Asian Tour.

Curry met the press, a hundred of them, yesterday morning at the Kerry Sports at Shangri-La BGC, a world-class fitness and leisure club.

The three-time NBA champion staged a one-man shootaround and hit back-to-back-to-back-to-back three-point shots like he normally does in the NBA.

  NBA superstar Stephen Curry drives to the basket in a warmup to what he does best – shoot 3s where his opponents don’t suspect he will do, from beyond, beyond the arc. JOEY MENDOZA

He admitted that it’s his biggest weapon – hitting three-point shots from a range where his defenders would not think of him taking the shots.

With mediamen watching, he sank three-pointers like he took them from 10 feet.

On stage, he was presented with a bowl of “halo-halo.” He dug in on the icy dessert of purple yam, pinipig rice and sweet beans.

“This is cold,” said Curry, who was scheduled to grace the Under Armour 3x3 competition at the MOA Arena yesterday and today’s opening of the UAAP season. (UAAP story on Page 18)

Curry talked about the NBA, and his team’s bid for a third straight crown.

The Warriors have the chance to become only the fifth team in NBA history to win three titles in a row after the Minneapolis Lakers, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls and LA Lakers.

“We have an amazing opportunity to do something that is rarely done in the NBA and that is to win three in a row,” he said.

“I’m excited about the challenge. We want to accomplish the ultimate feel of winning the championship every single year. That’s why we work so hard during the offseason,” added the 30-year-old American.

“We want more,” Curry said.

He’ll get more.