Globetrotters promise better tricks, treat

MANILA, Philippines – The Harlem Globetrotters, in town for a series of shows, vow to bring joy and laughter as they play three games versus the Washington Generals tomorrow and Monday at the Araneta Coliseum.

The Globies arrived Thursday, raring to dish out an even better set of tricks than the ones they put up in Malaysia and Singapore before coming here.

“The craziest athletes in the world are here. I encourage everybody to come out and have a good time,” said Harlem Globetrotter legend Sweet Lou Dunbar, now head coach of the team in his 29th year with the organization.

Dunbar, a University of Houston Hall of Famer, was the most popular showman in the team that last performed in Manila in 1991.

He encouraged even the oldies to watch the games, saying the Harlem Globetrotters have kept on reinventing themselves.

“Like anything else, we moved on with the times. Basketball would never change and we still do traditional things but, of course, we have transformed, modernizing our game,” said Dunbar in a press conference at Dusit Hotel in Makati yesterday.

Aside from joy and laughter, Dunbar said there will be the competition.

“We beat them (the Generals) by eight in Malaysia and beat them pretty badly in Singapore. They’re surely eager to pull one over us here in Manila but we’re determined to keep on winning. A Harlem Globetrotters loss is like shooting Santa Claus,” said Dunbar.

“The Washington Generals coach is trying to cheat us. Watch out for that,” Dunbar said, hinting at a special treat.

Dunbar also hinted at their usual tricks to the crowd.

“We still throw confetti and water to the crowd. Watch out which comes first,” he said.

Max Entertainment and Solar Entertainment have teamed up to bring the Harlem Globetrotters back in Manila for the first time in 18 years.

Heading the cast are Big Easy Lofton, Skyscraper Alleyne, Flight Time Lang, Bull Bullard, Sweat Pea Shine, Slick Willie Shaw, Airport Greenup, General Grant and Hi Rise Brown.

Ahead of their Big Dome shows, the Globetrotters will also be in and around town making several appearances on TV and radio as well as mall tour today. They will be visiting SM North EDSA, Trinoma, Gateway, Robinsons Galleria, SM Megamall, The Podium, Shangri-La Mall and SM Mall of Asia from 2-5 p.m.

Solar Entertainment is chronicling the Harlem Globetrotters’ Philippine experience in a funny and action-packed one-hour TV special that will be aired in June on C/S9 and Basketball TV.

The Harlem Globetrotters Live in Manila is sponsored by Dusit Hotel, Pioneer Insurance and Sun Cellular. The games are set at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. tomorrow and 7 p.m. on Monday.