Hayward, Thompson feel right at home

MANILA, Philippines - Being first-timers in the Philippines it’s no surprise that rising NBA star Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz and retired WNBA superstar Tina Thompson don’t know much about the country.

Nothing much except that Filipinos are crazy about basketball and that its men’s national team has qualified for the prestigious FIBA World Cup in Spain in August.

For now, that’s all they needed to know.

The 6-foot-8 Hayward, a first-round draft pick by the Jazz in 2010, and Thompson, who led the Houston Comets to four consecutive WNBC titles until 2000, are here to promote the NBA Junior program.

For the next few days they will move around town to meet with coaches and young players. Yesterday, they were at Hotel Sofitel for one-on-one interviews with the local press.

“It’s my first time here but I know you’re passionate about basketball,” said Hayward, hooked on tennis in high school but focused more on basketball following a massive growth spurt.

From 5’11” as a freshman at Butler, Hayward shot up to 6’8” on his senior year. He knew it was time to give up tennis and his partnership with twin sister Heather. 

The 24-year-old Hayward, a video-game expert and rapper on the side, knew that the Philippines will compete in the FIBA World Cup.

“I heard that and that’s truly exciting,” he said.

Hayward, who scored an NBA personal best of 37 points in a win over the Oklahoma Thunder only last January, shared a couple of tips for members of Gilas Pilipinas.

First, he said, is for the players to “enjoy” the moment.

“Then use your strength. You probably have a lot of speed on your side so you should use that to your advantage,” said Hayward, who came along with his lovely girlfriend.

Hayward knows what it feels like playing for flag and country because in 2009 he played for the United States team that ruled the FIBA Under-19 World Championship.

“There’s nothing like playing for your country,” he assured.

Thompson also has the experience to speak of because she was part of the US team that won gold medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics in Athens and Beijing.

She couldn’t even compare the feeling of having an Olympic gold hanging from her neck than raising the WNBA trophies for the Comets.

“I’m not really sure if they are even comparable,” said the 6-foot-2 Thompson, who now has an eight-year-old son.

“There’s a different kind of level of pride in you when you’re playing for your country. It’s not like you’re playing for yourself or your local team,” she said.

Thompson is also aware that Gilas Pilipinas will be in the World Cup of basketball.

“I recently learned that the men’s team here has qualified for the FIBA Cup. It’s something so much bigger than yourself because you’re playing for your country and your countrymen.

“So, I definitely think the Olympic gold medals are set apart from the other championships,” said one of the finest talents ever to play in the WNBA.

Other than basketball, Thompson said she knew little of the Philippines.

“I knew it’s a very kind of serene and scenic and one of the most beautiful places in the world. But other than that I don’t know very much,” she said.

So, she said she was shocked to learn that the Philippines is basketball-crazy.

“I was actually very shocked to learn it a while ago – the kind of love for the game that this country has. I’ve only experienced that kind of love (for basketball) in America,” she said.

“But to know that basketball is the number one sport here is awesome. That means that you guys share the same love for the game that I do. It’s nice to be in that kind of an environment,” Thompson said.

Just enough to make her feel at home.