LeBron natuwa sa kanyang mural

MANILA, Philippines - Hindi naisip ni NBA star LeBron James na maipipinta ang kanyang imahe sa isang sementong basketball court.

At bumilib siya nang makita ang nasabing 92 feet by 45 feet mural sa Tenement Building sa Western Bicutan, Taguig nang dumating ito sa bansa para sa Manila leg ng kanyang Nike Rise Asian tour.

 “It reminded him of the hardships of his early life in Akron,” wika ni Nike Philippines country marketing manager Patrick Reyes Reyes. “I think he was blown away and even left his handprint on a cement cast which is like leaving his legacy at the Tenement.  LeBron has a soft spot for kids and he came back to our country knowing the Nike Rise program is about enabling kids with the opportunity to rise from the ground to a better future.”

Tinawag ni James ang Tenement Building na isang “amazing place” sa kanyang Instagram na @kingjames.

“An abandoned parking garage that’s been taken over by more than 5,000 displaced family members,” isinulat ni James. “This basketball court is its heart and soul and if it weren’t for basketball giving the kids a distraction from the bad influences around them, the state would tear it down.  Honored to have my likeness grace this space.  Of course, it’s humbling to know that you’re inspiring people all over the world, all the way to your homeland.  I’m also grateful … it’s a really cool thing that they would do something like that in their home and allow me to be an inspiration to them.”

Ang mural ni James ay ginawa ni tattoo at street artist Maya Carandang ng Marikina.

Ito ay ginawa ni Carandang sa kabuuang 48 sa loob ng apat na araw kung saan gumamit siya ng 12 galon ng quick-dry paint na orange, black, white at blue.