MANILA, Philippines - Nakatakdang duma-ting ngayon sa bansa ang legendary New York streetballer at 13-year NBA veteran na si Stephon Marbury mula sa Kuala Lumpur para sa maikli niyang pagbisita sa pamamagitan ng kanyang Asian agent na si Sheryl Reyes.
Magkakaroon si Marbury, naglalaro ngayon sa China, ng isang press conference bukas sa National Press Club kasunod ang kanyang pagdalo sa Fans Day sa Asian Institute of Maritime Studies sa Pasay City kinahapunan.
Sinabi ni Reyes na nasasabik si Marbury na pag-usapan ang business opportunities para sa kanyang low-cost “Starbury†basketball shoe na posibleng makakuha ng distributors sa bansa.
Ang naturang sapatos ay inilunsad sa US market noong 2006 sa presyong $14.98.
“We’re in talks with prospective distributors,†sabi ni Reyes. “When the ‘Starbury’ was launched, it took the market by storm because of its low cost. It was Stephon’s way of making available his kind of shoes to athletes who couldn’t afford high-ends. That’s how he is. Stephon has a soft spot in his heart for the less fortunate. It’s also why he chose to appear at the National Press Club. He wants to help the surviving families of journalists who’ve been martyred. At the Asian Institute of Maritime Studies, he’ll be honored by the Pastor family for his contributions to the sport and we expect at least 200 students to welcome him. We’re also arranging for one-on-one interviews with media.â€
Ayon pa kay Reyes, hindi magsasagawa si Marbury ng mga basketball clinics dito.
Ang 6’2 na si Marbury ay nagtala ng mga averages na 19.3 points at 7.6 assists sa 846 regular season games para sa Minnesota, New Jersey, Phoenix, New York at Boston sa NBA. Siya ang naging first round pick ng Milwaukee noong 1996 draft at fourth overall sa likod nina Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby at Shareef Abdur-Rahim.