MANILA, Philippines - James Harden of the Houston Rockets will join the Gilas Pilipinas closed-door practice tonight at the Mall of Asia Arena.
Gilas head coach Chot Reyes broke the news on his Twitter account (@coachot) on Thursday late afternoon.
Apparently, Harden was working out in the gym of Sofitel, where they are billeted, when he came across with the Gilas Pilipinas players who were also doing their physical conditioning in the same gym.
That's when Harden asked Gabe Norwood if he could join them in practice while he's in town. Norwood relayed that to Reyes, who immediately said yes.
Harden played against Norwood during the Houston Rockets star's first visit in the country in 2011 in a pair of exhibition games versus Gilas and a crack PBA selection. Harden joined Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Javale McGee, Derek Fisher and Tyreke Evans in that selection that played at the Smart Araneta Coliseum during the NBA lockout period.
Harden together with New Orleans Pelicans Eric Gordon along with Memphis Grizzlies mascot and Indiana Pacemates are in Manila to grace the NBA 3X on weekend at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.
Philstar.com is still confirming as of this posting if Harden did show up in Gilas practice tonight.